Pakistan Ambassador discuss MLA with AG Githu
By KBC Correspondent
The Governments of Kenya and Pakistan are seeking to further enhance bilateral cooperation through the development and adoption of Mutual Legal Assistance.
This follows discussions held Friday morning between the Pakistani High Commissioner to Kenya, Mr. Raza Bashir Tarar and the Attorney General, Professor Githu Muigai.
The negotiations which also addressed the issue of the repatriation of nationals incarcerated in the two countries over various offenses observed that the two countries shared diverse interests.
Negotiations between the two states are expected to commence with the aim of developing three crucial treaties, the Treaty on Extradition, the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance and the Treaty on the Transfer of Prisoners.
A joint Ministerial Commission exists between the two states allowing for bilateral engagements with the National Parliaments, and the Chambers of Commerce and Industry as well as sports. The two states have good trading relations with tea and rice featuring as the major commodities traded between both states
The Mutual Legal Assistance Act 2011 came into effect on 2nd December 2011 and provides for legal assistance to be given and received by the Government of Kenya from foreign countries and partners in relations to investigations, prosecutions and judicial proceedings on criminal matters.
The concern for Mutual Legal assistance is the channel of state inter-relations in addressing criminal matters.
The Act allows for the creation of a Central Authority through the legal advisors of the member states that reduces the bureaucratic channels of diplomacy in addressing the criminal matters.
