KARACHI: The retraction of statements by key eyewitnesses in the Shahzeb Khan murder case comes as no surprise. In a country like Pakistan, with a glaring absence of witness protection programmes and where it is extremely difficult to trust law-enforcement agencies, one can hardly blame the witnesses if they decided to change their statements about what they saw.
The protection programmes being implemented by major nations such as the US, the UK, New Zealand, China, Ireland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Ukraine seek to provide refuge to witnesses or any person involved in the justice system from any intimidation by the defendants or others. Even without implementing the programme, the local police can certainly implement an informal system to ensure the safety of witnesses in specific cases.
However, no such thing is seen in Pakistan. One can hardly expect anyone to remember what they saw on a dark night when there are threats hanging on their own family and lives. I would like to request the government and the judicial system to kindly ensure safety for the witnesses, especially when key influential figures are involved. Retracting statements in ongoing cases will always be seen as a reaction to intimidation, making it difficult to separate facts from fear.
Amna Billoo
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2013.
