Sindh Prosecution Service’s groundbreaking five-year action plan released to promote inclusiveness and human rights in the delivery of justice to the people of Sindh

July 3, 2024, Karachi – Sindh Prosecution Roadmap is a groundbreaking initiative implemented with the technical support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in close collaboration with the Sindh Criminal Prosecution Service. It aims to improve the institutional capacity of the Sindh Criminal Prosecution Service, uphold justice in a fair and equitable manner, and advocate for the guiding principles of protecting human rights while prioritizing gender issues.

The Sindh Prosecution Roadmap was launched on 3rd July 2024 at a ceremony organised by the Sindh Criminal Prosecution Service in Karachi in the presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sindh, Murad Ali Shah. He unveiled the five-year Sindh Prosecution Roadmap, endorsing it as a testament to the Government of Sindh’s commitment to strengthening the law enforcement system in delivering evidence-based decisions and governance reforms. The event was attended by stakeholders of the criminal justice system in Sindh, civil society, academicians and members of various Consulates General and Diplomatic Missions based in Karachi, particularly those of France, Italy, Japan, Qatar and Kuwait based in Karachi.

The event was attended by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Attorney General of Sindh, Dr. Fiaz Shah, Minister of Agriculture, Supplies and Prices, Sports and Youth Affairs, Inquiries and Anti-Corruption, Sardar Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar and UNODC Country Office Representative in Pakistan, Mr. Jeremy Milsom.

The Sindh Prosecution Roadmap is lauded as a timely initiative to accelerate the commitment to Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the Sindh government. It aims to improve and elevate the level of prosecutorial services in Sindh, bringing them in line with global standards of honesty and integrity in the administration of justice.

UNODC provided technical support to the Sindh Criminal Prosecution Service in designing and developing this groundbreaking document that translates the strategic vision of the Government of Sindh into a citizen-centric and inclusive action plan through measurable, objective and actionable mandates.

Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister of Sindh, stressed, “It is important that we implement appropriate policy and governance reforms to realize the vision of the roadmap for evidence-based decision-making. I have full confidence in the capacity of our institutions as well as the technical support provided by UNODC through its global practice of implementing the roadmap project in similar contexts.”

The road map for criminal proceedings in Sindh rests on three basic pillars. first pillar focuses on strengthening the institutional capacity of Sindh Criminal Prosecution Services by providing adequate training, resources and support to ensure that the prosecution services are well-equipped to discharge their duties. second pillar aims to improve the functional efficiency of the Public Prosecution Service as the guardian of the criminal justice system. This includes implementing best practices, streamlining processes and ensuring that the Public Prosecution Service’s role is conducted in accordance with international standards of professionalism and integrity. The third pillar aims to promote citizen-centric service delivery, ensuring that services are accessible, fair and inclusive, in line with the principles of gender equality and human rights.

Dr. Fiaz Hussain Shah, Attorney General Sindh highlighted the importance of the roadmap for the prosecution service by saying, “This initiative aims to modernize our practices, strengthen our institutional capacity by adopting international standards and focusing on inclusiveness, our aim is to build a prosecution system that truly serves the people of Sindh with integrity and accountability.”

Mr. Jeremy Milsom, UNDOC Representative, highlighted the importance of Roadmap in upholding human rights and gender justice through proactive reforms of the law enforcement system in Sindh. Roadmap aims to ensure fair and transparent justice to protect the rights of all, including marginalized and vulnerable groups, with a special focus on gender perspectives to ensure equal access to justice for women, girls and excluded groups such as transgender persons.

The Sindh Criminal Procedure Roadmap will serve as a call to action for all those committed to the rule of law to work together towards creating a fair and equitable justice system that serves the people of Sindh.

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