Training of Trainers (ToT) Mentoring Sessions for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police, Lahore

20 May 2019, Islamabad - UNODC in collaboration with the European Union conducted the 5 th and 6 th sessions of training of trainers for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police under the Pakistan's Action to Counter Terrorism (PACT) project.  The aim of these sessions is to enhance the capacity of the trainees, and to capacitate them to further train their respective teams so that a multiplier effect is achieved. After a week-long ToT held in Islamabad, UNODC continued with a second week-long session in Lahore, from 29 April  to 03 May 2019, attended by 16 trainees. 

The first week was kickstarted in Islamabad with an inaugural address by Col (R) Ghulam Abbas, Senior Training & Programme Coordinator UNODC. He presented the objectives of the session,   along with the agenda for the week; after which the trainees were requested to deliver their presentations on the assigned training modules. The presenting groups were assessed by the evaluation panel: comprising experts from UNODC and the Police, including Col (R) Ghulam Abbas; Col (R) Shahrukh Khan, Expert Trainer; Major (R) Aftab Shuaib, Expert Trainer; and Mr Tahir Naveed, Deputy Inspector General Police (R), National Consultant.

The second week was planned for Lahore, where a study tour was organized, and the participants taken to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA), and subsequently to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab, and the Police Training College Chung. During the visit to PFSA, the participants took great interest in the case studies presented by the experts, following which they were introduced to the fourteen forensic science disciplines at PFSA. The trainees were familiarized with the state-of-the-art equipment and other facilities, and interacted with experts to capacitate themselves on the use of advanced forensic science tools during the investigation of heinous crimes and terrorism. The experts also shared the standard operating procedures for requesting the services of PFSA by other provinces, and ways and means of effective investigation for improved conviction rates of cases under prosecution. Afterwards, the trainees participated in a mock crime scene, and demonstrated their knowledge of the essential steps to follow after a terrorist incident or crime scene discovery.  

At CTD Punjab Mr Rai Tahir, Additional Inspector General CTD Punjab, gave a comprehensive presentation on the Department's overall mandate, structure, facilities, a nd functions; and provided brief statistics of its successful interventions in combatting terrorism throughout the province. The day concluded with a visit to Police Training College Chung. The participants were given a tour of the academy's different sections, and warmly welcomed by Mirza Faran Baig, Commandant of the College.

For the remaining three days of the second week, the participants presented their assigned training modules, following which the final assessment was carried out by the evaluation panel.  

On the last day of the training session Dr Fasihuddin, DIG Police Training KP Police, gave a lecture on the 'Impediments in Investigation of Drug Related Crimes'. He highlighted the problems and challenges faced by investigators throughout the investigation of crimes associated with the transfer, distribution, and entire cycle of drug use and abuse from acquisition to consumption.

In his concluding remarks Dr Fasihuddin lauded the initiatives taken by UNODC and the EU in enabling this event through their technical and financial support, and noted the efficacy of the course in the capacity building of the KP Police. The participants too appreciated the efforts of the PACT team in organizing such educational sessions; in particular the study tour to PFSA, CTD Punjab, and Police College Chung. They stated that these instructive sessions had assisted in enhancing their skills and knowledge in the context of investigating crime scenes and terrorism-related incidents. All participants were awarded certificates of attendance.