28-30 October 2024, Islamabad -  To strengthen Pakistan’s efforts against transnational crimes, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), the Ministry of Interior, and with financial support from the Embassy of Denmark, conducted a three-day workshop titled “Requesting Electronic Evidence and Mutual Legal Assistance Across Borders” from October 28-30, 2024, in Islamabad. The workshop trained 19 participants including 2 women, from key government institutions demonstrating Pakistan’s commitment to combat cross-border crimes.
The event commenced with opening remarks from representatives of NACTA and UNODC, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration in addressing modern-day crimes. Facilitated by legal experts, the day 1 included a detailed review of Pakistan’s legal framework for MLA. Participants engaged in practical exercises on drafting and transmitting preservation requests, supplemented by case studies. A virtual session led by Ms. Arianna Lepore, Coordinator of the Global Initiative on Handling Electronic Evidence, from UNODC HQ, Vienna, who, introduced the development of customized practical guide for Pakistan to standardize MLA requests.
On 2nd day, participants delved into pre-MLA procedures, focusing on voluntary data disclosure and emergency protocols. Mr. Daniel Solten, Special Prosecutor at the Danish Director of Public Prosecutions, shared Denmark’s best practices in MLA processes, offering a comparative perspective to strengthen Pakistan’s approaches. Representatives from major service providers, including TikTok and Meta (Facebook), provided insights into their procedures for handling law enforcement requests, enhancing participants’ understanding of accessing critical electronic data.