25 August 2023, Karachi – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), and the Ministry of Interior (MOI) organized a two-day workshop on requesting electronic evidence in terrorism-related cases. A total of 22 participants, including three female attendees, participated in the workshop. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Sindh Police, National Counter Terrorism Authority, Ministry of Interior, Financial Monitoring Unit, Balochistan, and Sindh Home Department. Groupwork sessions provided participants with a unique platform to engage in proactive discussions. The workshop provided a mechanism for transparent and collaborative actions among law enforcement agencies. The two-day workshop taught participants how to use a global practical guide on securing electronic evidence customized for Pakistan. This guide explains the steps of securing electronic evidence across international borders. During this workshop, participants enhanced their understanding of informal and formal mutual legal assistance and acquired comprehensive knowledge in multifaceted domains.
Participants also learned the critical aspects of investigations, including the casework practices essential for acquiring electronic evidence. The steps of drafting and dispatching preservation requests to foreign service providers were shared using the information as accessible platforms for electronic evidence requests through legal procedures and law enforcement guidelines. Trainers highlighted the instrumental role of service provider mapping and model preservation request forms.
Participants shared their challenges and discussed solutions to the problems, especially in seeking electronic evidence and addressing Emergency Disclosure Requests. Industry representatives from TikTok and Booking.com presented the practices and mechanisms of securing e-evidence from service providers. Other panelists included representatives from the Department of Justice Canada and the United States, who imparted insightful knowledge, guiding participants in requesting electronic evidence from these nations.
After the workshop, participants expressed their appreciation for UNODC's efforts in organizing the event. They acknowledged the Customized Practical Guide for Requesting Electronic Evidence Across Borders as a significant advancement in Pakistan's fight against terrorism. The knowledge and expertise gained during the workshop equipped law enforcement officials to combat terrorism more effectively using electronic evidence.
The workshop for Counterterrorism was funded by the U.S. Embassy's Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) as part of Pakistan's Terrorism Prevention Programme (PTP2) concerning Sindh and Balochistan.
