ISLAMABAD : The U.S. Department of Justice and theU.S. Embassy's Office of Narcotics Affairs completed a week-longCase Preparation and Trial Skills Workshop for Pakistaniprosecutors.
The program examined how prosecutors screen, analyzeand handle cases received from the police - from the initial casepreparation to the verdict. This should increase criminalconvictions by improving case preparation. Twenty-seven prosecutors from the Khyber-Paktunkhwa participatedin the workshop. They studied the basic rules of case analysis,evidence, advocacy techniques, trial strategy, witness preparation,oral argument and witness examination. Two U.S. government federaljudges, two U.S. government prosecutors, two American policeofficers, and three Pakistani defense counsel provided instruction. Case analysis focused on issues commonly found in prosecutorspractice -- suggestive or inadequate identification, gaps in policeinvestigations, and missing documentation. On the last day, allparticipants participated in full mock trials, thereby putting alllearned skills together into one effort. The training, under the Directors of each Provincial ProsecutionService, was also provided to Punjab and KPK prosecutors. It will beprovided to Sindh counterparts next month. Three KPK prosecutorswill travel to the Department of Justice Training Academy in theU.S. for further specialized trial skills training. The Office of Narcotics Affairs also sponsors programs in lawenforcement reform and training, equipment, and infrastructuredevelopments to all Pakistani law enforcement organizations. Coursesemphasizing criminal investigations, instructor development, crimescene management, first aid, leadership and human rights are offeredby U.S. subject matter experts throughout the year. In addition,assistance is provided in the area of drug law enforcement, drugdemand reduction and border security which includes the training,operation, and maintenance in support of the Ministry of Interior'sAir Wing. PPI