EU team told: Absence of data sharing weakens terrorism cases
RAWALPINDI: Absence of information sharing between intelligence agencies and police is one of the main reasons contributing towards weakening of the prosecution cases in many terrorism incidents.
This was stated by District Public Prosecutor Malik Mohammad Asghar while briefing a delegation from European Union about the role of investigators and prosecutors in preparing terrorism cases and bringing terrorists to book here on Wednesday.
The two-member delegation, led by Annette Von Fydow, visited the offices of the DPP and the CPO in connection with learning the process of investigation and prosecution in terrorism cases.
The district prosecutor briefed the UE team and said due to the absence of information sharing among intelligence agencies and investigators, the suspects got benefit and the prosecution faced difficulties in bringing them to the book.
Malik Asghar said weak evidences and witnesses presented in the trial courts ultimately favoured the accused, adding many suspected terrorists were recently acquitted in different terrorism cases. The prosecutor said lack of knowledge among the investigators about modern techniques was another reason that weakened terrorism cases. The delegation was informed that in the country of over 170 million, one policeman was available for every 500 citizens. He said owing to such shortcomings, conviction rate in the terrorism cases was not encouraging.
Taking to the delegation, the CPO admitted that ignorance of police officers about modern investigation techniques was one of the reasons causing low conviction rates in terrorism cases. He, however, said the police were utilising the available resources and were committed to bringing them to justice.
The district police chief said new technologies must be introduced to interrogate suspected terrorists and investigate terror incidents. He said a forensic laboratory should also be set up in every district for swift analysis of seized items.
Malik Asghar later told the media that the delegation’s visit aimed at gathering information about the process of investigation and prosecution in terrorism cases for envisaging a plan to help the investigators and prosecutors.
Source: Dawn
Date:9/9/2010
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