Save the witness
THE old affliction of failed enforcement has rendered another law lifeless. Enacted over a decade ago, the Sindh Witness Protection Act, 2013, was a crucial and comprehensive measure to provide foolproof security to witnesses in criminal cases, including accommodation for them, lifetime security, monetary support and compensation for heirs in the event of the shielded person’s death. The Sindh High Court was informed on Wednesday that, for eight long years, stakeholders had not responded to the draft of the Sindh Witness Protection Rules, but the law department insisted that the drafted rules had been verified in September 2014. The state’s inability to keep witnesses safe even when it is cognisant of threats to their life, family and property has led to abysmal conviction rates, allowing the culpable to walk free. A report released in 2020 revealed that the absence of a witness protection programme impacted at least 1,700 cases at 33 anti-terrorism courts.
There is no dearth of instances where witnesses in prominent criminal and terror cases have been eliminated, or magistrates have dropped murder charges because people stayed out of witness stands. Callous attitudes have to change; rather than tilting towards offenders, the system must facilitate safe depositions against the accused by permitting testimonies to take place via video links. Such a provision allays fears about an individual’s protection in court when powerful actors are involved. Indeed, the present scale of militancy and crime does not allow for more primary eyewitnesses to turn hostile. A crumbling criminal justice system cannot be rescued without foolproof investigations, improved, sensitised policing and a robust witness protection mechanism. With witness protection laws in all provinces, Pakistan can ill afford complacency. Hence, in camera trials, identity protection, economic benefits and decent, discreet and heavily guarded safe havens need to be seen as preconditions to peace. While these aspects pose financial and procedural challenges, they do promise a leap forward.
Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2024
Gwadar outrage
JUST two days after the president, while on a visit to Balochistan, discussed the need for a political dialogue to address the province’s problems, terrorists struck in Surbandar, on the outskirts of Gwadar, murdering seven innocent men as they slept. All the victims, who worked at a local barbershop, hailed from Punjab. This is the third incident of its kind in the province over the last few months. Nine passengers were pulled off a bus in Noshki by militants last month and after their papers were checked, the men were later found murdered under a bridge. Meanwhile, six labourers were killed as they slept last October in Turbat. In all these incidents, the victims were originally from Punjab. No cause can justify these ghastly crimes. The political leadership, from the prime minister down, has condemned these barbaric murders, and has vowed to secure justice for the slain men.
The apparent aim of these reprehensible acts is to foment ethnic unrest by targeting individuals of a certain ethnicity or regional background. While locals in Balochistan should be given preference in jobs, there can be absolutely no justification for targeting workers from outside the province trying to make an honest living there. Most of the victims are driven by poverty to leave their homes and families behind just to ensure their loved ones have food on the table. Moreover, citizens of all federating units have the right to live and work anywhere in Pakistan, so targeting people by terming them ‘settlers’ and ‘outsiders’ is totally unacceptable. It is a matter of concern that terrorists have struck at a time when the state has raised the need for a political dialogue in Balochistan. The involvement of hostile foreign actors cannot be ruled out either, especially given the fact that the Chinese are active in Balochistan, while Gulf investors are also considering putting money into schemes in the province. If prosperity comes to Balochistan, and locals are given employment opportunities through foreign investment, the narrative of the separatists will be seriously punctured. Therefore, the grotesque acts of violence could be designed to scare away foreign investors. The state needs to provide security to all Balochistan’s people, while those involved in these gruesome crimes must be brought to justice. Sustainable socioeconomic development cannot take place in Balochistan in the presence of terrorist threats.
Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2024
Enrolment drive
IN a promising albeit familiar declaration, the prime minister has announced a four-year “education emergency” to eradicate the blight of illiteracy and bring millions of out-of-school children into the classroom fold. While many governments have come and gone and such emergencies have been declared, obstacles to access, quality and equity in education persist, underscoring the need for a renewed commitment. The PM’s stated resolve to personally oversee this initiative and to collaborate across provincial and political lines enhances hope but also raises the stakes for tangible outcomes.
Pakistan’s education crisis is both deep-rooted and widespread. The statistics are sobering: the country grapples with a literacy rate of only 62pc and educational spending at a mere 1.7pc of its GDP. There are an estimated 26m children out of school and 70pc of 10-year-olds are unable to comprehend basic texts. Add to this the fact that a significant proportion of schools lack basic facilities such as potable water and toilets.
The disparity in educational access between urban and rural areas, and between boys and girls, further complicates matters. The authorities must prepare a solid plan of action if they truly aim to tackle this beast. First, increasing the allocation of GDP to education by the provinces and the centre is non-negotiable. This increase must be used judiciously to improve school infrastructure and ensure all children have access to basic educational facilities. Furthermore, teacher recruitment, training, and retention strategies must be overhauled to address the gap of 200,000 vacant teaching positions nationwide, as highlighted by Malala Yousafzai.
Additionally, the authorities should implement targeted interventions to bring out-of-school children, especially girls, into the educational system. Initiatives like the school meal programmes, as suggested by the World Food Programme, can be effective in increasing school attendance, while addressing nutritional deficiencies that affect learning.
The curriculum needs to be revamped to focus on foundational literacy and numeracy. Integrating technology can help bridge the gap between different regions and provide remote learning opportunities. Moreover, collaborative efforts with international partners and NGOs should be harnessed to bring best practices and funding to the fore. International organisations are poised to support, but they require a dispensation that is transparent and committed in its approach.
Lastly, the commitment to establish the ‘Pakistan Skill Company’ and the ‘Pakistan Skill Development Fund’ is a step in the right direction. It acknowledges the broader spectrum of education beyond primary schooling, which is crucial for economic independence and growth.
With a strategic, well-funded, and inclusive approach, it is possible to transform the educational landscape of Pakistan. It is hoped that the education authorities deliver an actionable plan that will stand the test of time and political change. For once, let this not be a missed opportunity.
Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2024