Press Release

 

Operationalization of the Rule of Law Roadmap for Sindh

 

KARACHI, 19 September 2019 - Sindh's criminal justice system took a momentous step forward by agreeing specific targets designed to deliver real change for people. A Rule of Law Roadmap Steering Committee (SC), comprising government, police and judicial leads agreed on Thursday to collectively focus Sindh's reform energies on reducing the "in prison overcrowding" & Increase in conviction rate of street crimes" Data, which informed the broad diagnostic Roadmap exercise endorsed by Cabinet earlier in the year, will be used to track delivery against these targets, to hold institutions to account for implementation of their own sub-targets, and to show the public where reforms are succeeding or not. Attended by senior officials, including the Home Secretary, IG Police Sindh, IG Prisons and the Prosecutor General, the Committee was chaired by the Advisor to CM on Law, Environment, Climate Change and Costal Development (Spokesperson to Government) Mr. Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui.
Mr. Abdul Kabir Kazi, Secretary Home, welcomed the visiting delegation comprising the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as lead Roadmap implementer, and the British High Commission (BHC), who financial contribution made it possible. 

The Committee also approved a 'Sindh Action Plan under the Roadmap', which sets out what each institution needs to do in order for the province to hit its lofty targets. Secretary Home commended the dedicated interest of all criminal justice institutions in embracing their role to deliver change and committing to work together to unblock obstacles to change. Mr. Kabir Kazi emphasised the new methods the Roadmap approach introduces to deliver change, including a new governance framework for rule of law reforms, saying that 'we have to start using data, technology and other modern tools in order to improve service delivery and performance management'.

While presenting the Action Plan, UNODC's new Country Representative to Pakistan, Mr Jeremy Milsom, applauded the efforts of all institutions representing the Criminal Justice System (CJS) for agreeing targets which enable the provincial leadership to track progress, prescribe corrective action where necessary, and reward results.  

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Jouhaida Hanano, UNODC's Criminal Justice Advisor, emphasised the crucial role the Home Department is playing in driving the reform agenda in line with the National Action Plan objectives. She emphasised the need to invest in building the capability of the Delivery Unit resources and to vest it with the relevant Delivery Information Management System (DIMS) to drive the reform agenda.
Representing the BHC delegation, Mr. Simon Charters congratulated Sindh for its strong leadership in focussing on real criminal justice results for people. He shared Sindh's optimism that by identifying a few strategic targets, and using data and stronger governance to drive progress, the government and judiciary is demonstrating a genuine commitment to create a fairer criminal justice system for all. Sindh is on course for a good news story on criminal justice reform, which will challenge other provinces - who also have Rule of Law Roadmaps developed with UK support - to demonstrate similarly strong progress.

Mr. Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui, the Advisor to CM on Law, Environment, Climate Change and Costal Development (Spokesperson to Government) thanked and recognized the long-standing support and technical assistance provided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UK Government for their continued support in establishing a workable model that will demonstrate results and accentuate service delivery. He further assured partners of the continued support from the Government of Sindh, and its commitment to show that this new governance model will deliver worthy results in the foreseeable future. 

 

For further information or media enquiries please contact: Ms Rizwana Rahool, Communication Officer, Cell: 03018564255, Email: rizwana.asad@unodc.org

 

19 September 2019

Karachi