CJP dissatisfied with slow disposal of cases in anti-terrorism courts in Sindh

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday expressed dissatisfaction over slow disposal of cases in the anti-terrorism courts in Sindh.
According to a press release issued by the Supreme Court, the CJP chaired high level meeting at the Supreme Court Branch Registry in Karachi, held in connection with the performance of anti-terrorism courts in the province and the role of prosecution and investigation agencies in quick disposal of the cases.
He expressed dissatisfaction over the slow disposal of cases in the anti-terrorism courts, the delay in submission of challans and the frequent adjournments being sought and granted to the prosecuting and defense counsels.
The CJP observed that per the judgement in the Shaikh Liaqat Hussain case, the Supreme Court set up a mechanism to monitor the performance of the anti-terrorism courts to quickly decide such cases. The mechanism was meant to remove handicaps or irritants in the way of expeditious disposal of cases.
The chief justice said terrorism also came up for consideration before the five members bench in the suo motu case regarding law and order in Karachi and the court issued categorical directions to the provincial police as well as the DG, Rangers to apprehend the culprits and timely investigate the cases.
He exhorted the security agencies to follow the directions given by the court in the Karachi violence case to the effect that there must not be any “no go area”, adding that if any such area was found, the police and Rangers shall take strong and decisive action to eliminate it, and if necessary, the Rangers DG shall personally lead the operation in such areas.
The court order had further stated that the law enforcement operations shall be carried out across the board and without any pressure or influence from any quarters.
The Sindh High Court chief justice, who is the in charge of anti-terrorism courts, said there were 31,124 anti-terrorism cases pending before the 11 anti-terrorism courts in the province, of which some 323 cases were pending in Karachi alone.
The judge incharge of anti-terrorism courts assured the meeting that more ATC Judges had been appointed and these courts had become functional, the disposal figure would increase.
In his presentation to the chief justice, the Sindh IG said during the five-month period, a total of 240 cases had been registered and 291 accused were arrested under the ATC law.
The challans in respect of 130 cases had been submitted in the courts, he said. The meeting took notice of the reports to the effect that some influential accused persons, arrested by the Rangers and handed over to police for investigation, were given the benefit of being charged under Section 13-D of the Arms Ordinance 1965 (carrying arms without licence), carrying lesser sentence, even though the provisions of the ATC law were attracted because of which, such accused persons got released on bail by the courts.
The chief justice of Pakistan directed that such leniency was unwarranted and against the law. The IGP reported that the allegation of showing partiality and favour to an accused namely Muhammad Salim alias Choto, disciplinary proceedings had been initiated by the government against SP Umar Khitab. The IG assured the CJP that police officers responsible for showing any favour, partiality or leniency due to political influence or otherwise would be proceeded against under the law.