KARACHI, Nov 2: The Sindh government has constituted a five-member committee to make recommendations for legislation on provision of protection to witnesses in high-profile criminal cases.

The committee, headed by additional chief secretary (home) Waseem Ahmad, has been formed in pursuance of the Oct 6 Supreme Court judgment in suo motu (No.16 of 2011) proceedings.

Recently, the Sindh cabinet approved a bill on the subject which is likely to be tabled in the Sindh Assembly.

A need for such a law was being felt keeping in view the low conviction rate in criminal cases in spite of arrest of suspects in many criminal cases.

In most cases of violence, suspects get themselves released by courts as witnesses either do not appear in court to testify or change their statements apparently due to pressure or fear from criminals or their patrons and, ultimately, suspects are set free for want of sufficient evidence.

Laws to protect witnesses exist in Australia, Britain, Canada, India, the US and in many other countries which arrange for relocation, change of identity and financial support to ensure security of witnesses.

A notification issued in this regard by the home department says: “With the approval of competent authority, Government of Sindh has constituted a committee for submitting its recommendations for developing a mechanism for witness protection in high profile cases”.

The committee, according to the notification, comprises the additional chief secretary (home), law secretary, inspector-general of police, inspector-general of prisons and prosecutor general.

The convener (the ACS) will be authorised to include any co-opted member.

The terms of reference of the committee will be to study the existing laws in relation with witness protection in other countries; to prepare a draft institutional framework; and to define organisational structure of such an institution.

The committee is supposed to submit its recommendations within three weeks.