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Thursday March 28, 2024

Home dept asked to hire consultant for WPP

By Salis bin Perwaiz
March 06, 2017

A consultant for the newly formed Witness Protection Programme (WPP) is likely to be hired shortly, following which the programme’s complete implementation throughout Sindh would become a possibility by the end of the year.

AIG Sanaullah Abbasi, the Counter-Terrorism Department’s (CTD) provincial chief who heads the WPP, told The News that they had written to the home department, asking them to begin the official process for hiring a consultant through the competitive process.

Abbasi, who also holds a PhD degree in Law, added that they had suggested Saleem Wahidi, former DIG of Sindh police who is currently working for the United Nations, for the position.

Terming Wahidi an international expert in witness protection, he said the former police officer had pioneered similar programmes in Sierra Leone and Liberia, adding that Wahidi could ensure that Sindh’s programme was in line with international standards.

The provincial government was the first administration in the country to pass the Witness Protection Act in 2013. The reason behind the move was the difficulties faced by the law enforcement agencies in protecting witnesses of criminal acts, especially of heinous, terrorist, ethnic or sectarian nature.

The Sindh police will request a separate budget for the newly established Witness Protection Unit (WPU) with an estimated first-year budget of Rs75 million, divided into Rs40 million for setup costs and the remaining for witness protection expenditures.

Abbasi said he had recently met with NADRA officials who were part of the WPP, adding that they discussed matters relating to concealing the identities of the witnesses and their CNICs, on which the NADRA officials assured them of complete cooperation.

He said sufficient funds would be made available to the WPU incharge with adequate financial powers for disbursing discretionary funds as and when required, whether for buying or renting a place for witnesses or relocating them to other cities or provinces.

Officers and other staff deputed to the WPU would be imparted with special training to sensitise them to issues pertaining to witness protection. Western experts have already begun training the officials.

The CTD chief said he had also recommended that while he would supervise the WPP, a separate force should be formed for protecting witnesses because, according to the relevant rules, officers from his department could not be deputed for witness protection.

He suggested that the Special Security Unit (SSU) be assigned the task in the meantime, saying that an officer of SSP rank from the SSU should head the WPU under his supervision.

Moreover, NADRA should be asked to place a handful of CNIC numbers at the WPU’s disposal to change the identities of the witnesses in extreme cases. Entry and exit from the WPP is voluntary and at the discretion of the witnesses.

Abbasi pointed out that globally, the programme for witness protection was covert and not overt, as in the case of Pakistan. He recommended amending the relevant laws to encompass the suggestions made for an effective WPP at home.

Rights and benefits

The rights and benefits of a witness include a secure housing facility until he or she has testified or until the threat, intimidation or harassment they are facing ebbs away or is reduced to a manageable or tolerable level.

When the circumstances warrant, the witness shall be entitled to relocation and/or change of personal identity at the expense of the programme. This right may be extended to any member of the family of the witness within the second civil degree of consanguinity of affinity.

Any witness who fails to report to work because of witness duty shall be paid his or her equivalent salaries or wages corresponding to the number of days of absence occasioned by the programme. Any fraction of a day shall constitute a full-day salary or wage. This provision shall be applicable to both government and private employees.

The witness will be provided with reasonable travelling expenses and subsistence allowance by the programme in such amount as the board may determine for his attendance in court, body or authority where his testimony is required as well as conferences and interviews with prosecutors or investigating officers.

Moreover, they will also be provided with free medical treatment, hospitalisation and medicines in any private or public hospital, clinic or at any such institution at the expense of the programme for any injury or illness incurred or suffered because of witness duty.

If a witness is killed because of his participation in the programme, his or her heirs shall be entitled to a burial benefit from the programme, as determined by the government, exclusive of any other similar benefits he or she may be entitled to under other existing laws, as determined by the board.

In case of death or permanent incapacity, his or her minor or dependent children shall be entitled to free education from primary to college level in any state or private school, college or university, as determined by the board, as long as they are qualified.