Pakistan: Protection available to witnesses of violent crime, particularly in Sialkot

Section 21 (3) of the Pakistan's Anti Terrorism Act, 1997, reportedly states that "the government shall extend protection to a judge, a counsel/public prosecutor and witness during the investigations of an offence and proceedings under this Act and thereafter as may be necessary" (Dawn 30 June 2002).

According to a 1 February 2002 article, President General Pervez announced the "Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, 2002," a revision of the 1997 Act (The News). The new Ordinance states that "the armed forces shall also provide comprehensive protection and security to the judges, members, accused, witnesses, prosecutors, investigators, defence counsel and all those concerned in the court proceedings" (ibid.).

A 16 June 2002 article reported that three witnesses had been taken into "protective custody" and were being questioned about a car-bomb explosion outside of the US Consulate in Karachi (The Orlando Sentinel).

A November 2001 Amnesty International communiqué, reporting on sectarian violence in Pakistan, stated that "witnesses are afraid to come forward in the absence of adequate witness protection programs." As well, a 29 July 2002 Dawn article, similarly reporting on the increasing incidents of sectarian violence, reported that a senior police official had stated that the "witness-protection programme was not well-developed" in Pakistan.

Two Dawn articles reported the killing of witnesses in Pakistan (Dawn 8 May 2001; ibid. 1 Dec. 2001). The 8 May 2001 article reported the murder of a witness outside of the sessions court in Gujranwala, Punjab. According to the article, the witness was shot and set on fire by three assailants (ibid.). The 1 December 2001 article reported the murder of an eyewitness to a 29 September 2001 incident in which 16 Christians were shot while praying in a church in Bahawalpur, Punjab. The Pakistan Minority Inquilabi Tehrik (PMIT), expressing concern over the murder, criticized the government for "for not taking steps to provide effective security cover for the eyewitness" and demanded that full protection be provided to the remaining witnesses in order to ensure that their testimony could be heard in court (ibid.).

No information on the protection available to witnesses of violent crime in Sialkot could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Amnesty International (AI). November 2001. "Amnesty International Concerns With Respect to Shias in Pakistan." [Accessed 26 Aug. 2002]

Dawn [Karachi]. 30 June 2002. Zeeshan Siddique. "Lahore: ATC Judges Await Protected Houses." [Accessed 29 Aug. 2002]

_____. 29 July 2001. "Karachi: Govt, Police Slammed For Insensitivity: Moot on Sectarian Killings." [Accessed 26 Aug. 2002]

_____. 8 May 2001. "Gujranwala: Witness Shot Dead, Body Set on Fire Near Court." [Accessed 29 Aug. 2002]

_____. 1 December 2001. "Concern at Killing of Witness to Bahawalpur Carnage." [Accessed29 Aug. 2002]

The News [Islamabad]. 1 February 2002. "Pakistan: Anti-Terrorism Courts Reconstituted, Military Officer Included as Judge." (FBIS-NES-2002-0201/WNC)

The Orlando Sentinel. 16 June 2002. Seth Mydans. "Witness Questioned in Pakistan Blast; Investigators Theorized that A remote-Controlled Bomb Had Been Hidden in a Car and Detonated." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

NEXIS

Internet sites including:

BBC

Dawn

Dawn Wire Service

News International

Pakistan News Service

Rediff

The Tribune

World News Connection

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