28-30, 2024, Islamabad – With financial support from the European Union (EU), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), successfully organized a 3-day workshop on witness protection for officials of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and prosecution services from two major provinces of Pakistan. Held in Islamabad from October 28 to 30, 2024, the workshop brought together 24 officials, from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and provided an in-depth understanding of local and international witness protection frameworks, including the Punjab Witness Protection Act (2018), the Balochistan Witness Protection Act (2016), and relevant provisions in the Anti-Terrorism Act (1997). Special emphasis was placed on international best practices and the role of the United Nations conventions in strengthening witness protection mechanisms.
The workshop featured a combination of expert presentations and interactive group exercises. Participants drafted witness protection applications, discussed the legal obligations of law enforcement agencies, and role-played various scenarios related to witness relocation and identity protection. This hands-on approach provided a dynamic learning environment where officials could apply their knowledge in practical exercises.
Modern techniques such as videoconferencing to record witness testimony, ensuring witnesses in high-risk cases, and reviewing witness protection laws in provinces were deliberated, encouraging participants to learn from the diverse legal frameworks. The workshop concluded with remarks from a UNODC official, who underscored the importance of witness protection in ensuring successful prosecutions in terrorism cases.
As part of its continued efforts to assist Pakistan in its counter-terrorism initiatives, UNODC & EU remain committed to delivering comprehensive training programs that strengthen the country's criminal justice system. This workshop represents a key milestone of the EU-funded, project Countering and Preventing Terrorism in Pakistan (CPTP) aimed at empowering community resilience against violent extremism and acts of violence.
