Expert Opinion under the Pakistani Legal System: An Analytical Study of its Evidential Value
Abstract
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The current paper analyzes the scope and evidential value of expert opinion/evidence under the Pakistani legal system. The analysis is based on the case law decided by the superior judiciary with reference to some categories of expert evidence including medical evidence, handwriting expert’s opinion, ossification test, and the opinion of ballistic and explosive experts. The concept of the admissibility of expert opinion was legislatively introduced in the Indian subcontinent by the British colonial government. This legal framework was inherited by both India and Pakistan at the eve of partition in 1947. In addition to this default legal system, some new legal provisions were enacted in the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order 1984 and the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 to augment the value of those proofs that are based on technology and modern devices. Over the years, scientific and technological advancements in some categories of expert evidence have brought substantial precision and accuracy that is likely to have encouraging consequences for the value of such expert opinions. In short, evidential value of any opinion evidence hinges upon the nature of the evidence, as well as the scientific sophistication and technological precision of the concerned expert in that field, with reference to the particular circumstances of each case.
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Copyright (c) 2022 Shahbaz Ahmad Cheema, Samee Ozair Khan
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