"The Witness Protection Programme (WPP) would help in ensuring protection to witnesses from physical harm and intimidation. The programme also applies to witness and their family members who may also be under threat." Consultant on Home Affairs Sharfuddin Memon said this while talking to a delegation of Social Welfare Organisation at his office on Tuesday.
He said the idea to introduce WPP was given after observing witnesses' reluctance to testify, particularly in cases of heinous crimes. Memon observed WPP mainly focused on a programme designed to give desired protection to witnesses; encouraging them and others to testify and cooperate with law enforcement agencies to take the culprits to task.
Spelling out salient features of WPP, the consultant said programme covered security of the witnesses, their families and close relatives/friends by ensuring them tight security in and out of their houses till they testify or till the threat is lurking. Memon also said the idea of having a provincial WPP was originally conceived by Dr Zulfiqar Mirza and the working paper was also prepared on the guidelines given by him.