Strengthening Cross-Border Collaboration: Advancing Skills in MLA Drafting and Electronic Evidence Management

© UNODC-Pakistan

19 - 20 December 2024, Islamabad – Funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), UNODC, in collaboration with NACTA and the Ministry of Interior (MOI), organized a two-day workshop titled "Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA)" in Islamabad. The event brought together over 25 participants from various law enforcement and government agencies across Pakistan, five of whom were female. The workshop aimed to enhance Pakistan’s capacity to manage MLA requests and handle electronic evidence in cross-border cases.
The sessions commenced with an in-depth presentation on preserving electronic evidence, pre-MLA considerations, and emergency disclosure processes, setting the foundation for understanding the essentials of international cooperation. Experts provided participants with practical guidance on drafting MLA requests, emphasizing the importance of including complete and accurate information to meet international standards.

© UNODC-Pakistan

A key highlight of the event was the session on the sharing of Canada’s requirement for MLA requests and the introduction of the E-Portal, a newly developed system designed by UNODC with MOI to streamline the drafting, submission, and tracking of MLA and extradition requests. Participants engaged in hands-on exercises to understand the functionality of the portal, which is expected to improve efficiency and transparency in managing cross-border evidence requests. The workshop was a significant step forward in fostering international collaboration and enhancing Pakistan’s ability to address transnational crime and terrorism through effective MLA and extradition mechanisms. It was a key milestone of the project Pakistan’s Terrorism Prevention Programme (P2P) financially supported by GAC and aimed to improve law enforcement agencies’ skills to combat the financing of terrorism, and allied capacity building.
The workshop concluded with discussions on the next steps, underscoring the importance of adopting technology-driven solutions and continuing capacity-building initiatives to strengthen Pakistan’s legal and operational framework for mutual legal assistance.