Through EU funding, the Balochistan Criminal Justice leadership learned about the justice system in Ireland
Islamabad — Úna Kelly, First Secretary for the Rule of Law at the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan noted the commonalities in the justice systems between Ireland and Pakistan. She mentioned that the study visit had exposed the senior justice officials of Balochistan to core parts of the Irish criminal justice chain including ensuring human rights in all aspects of the system. It had also exposed the participants to the contribution of civil society organisations in helping the Irish authorities address some of the many challenges around crime and ultimately ensuring safer societies.
A high-level delegation from Balochistan’s criminal justice institutions undertook a four-day study visit to Ireland to learn about criminal justice practices in Ireland and how coordination, accountability, and performance management could be strengthened across the province’s justice sector.
The visit was organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Pakistan and facilitated by the Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI), through generous funding from the European Union under the ‘Deliver Justice Project’. The study visit aimed to provide senior decision-makers from Balochistan’s justice institutions with first-hand exposure to Ireland’s integrated criminal justice system, including its coordination mechanisms between police, prosecution, judiciary, the prison and probation services. Participants explored how data-driven management and evidence-based policies , strategic planning, and public accountability contribute to strengthening the rule of law and enhancing citizen trust in justice institutions.
The delegation included senior representatives from the Balochistan High Court, Home Department, Police, Prosecution, Prisons, Reclamation and Probation, and Women Development Departments.
During the visit, delegates engaged with senior officials from key Irish institutions, including An Garda Síochána (the national police service), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Courts Service, the Legal Aid Board, and the Irish Prison and Probation Services. The programme also featured briefings at the Law Society of Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs, to explore the evolution of Ireland’s justice system.
Speaking about the visit, Justice Rozi Khan, Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in advancing justice reform. “This visit has provided valuable insight into how institutions can work together to deliver justice more effectively and transparently,” he said.
Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Government of Balochistan, reinforced the benefits of the study tour and said, “In our pursuit of effective governance, we can draw valuable lessons from Ireland’s remarkable reforms in rule of law and criminal justice. As a common law country, Ireland’s experiences can inform our efforts to build a more effective and citizen-centric justice system in Balochistan.”
The study visit exemplifies how global exchange, international cooperation and peer learning can help local institutions translate shared values of fairness, accountability, and integrity into concrete results for communities in Balochistan.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
