KARACHI: The anti-terrorism courts (ATCs) in Sindh disposed off 2,386 cases in the first eight months of the current calendar year while 3,717 case are still pending.
According to a report in the local media, out of the 53 ATCs set up across the province, 45 are functioning with a conviction rate of 13.20 percent with statistics showing the accused acquitted in 2,071 cases and convicted in 315. Official figures further revealed that the courts handed down death sentences to 10 and gave 16 others life imprisonment.
More than 10 cases have still been awaiting disposal in the ATCs for the past one decade.
The case against a suspected militant of Jundullah, Qasim Toori, allegedly behind the 2004 attack on a convoy of the then Karachi corps commander, 2006 Nishtar Park bombing case, a 2001 case pertaining to the killing of the elder brother of former Sindh governor Moinuddin Haider against alleged Lashkar-i-Jhangvi militants, around five sectarian killing cases of 2002 against LJ militants are still pending before ATCs. The case relating to the 2009 Ashura bomb blast was also pending trial.
The ATCs were established under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, for speedy trial of cases pertaining to terrorism, sectarian killing, extortion and kidnapping for ransom.
Sindh has 33 permanent ATCs, including 20 in Karachi and three in Hyderabad, two in Sukkur and one each in Badin, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Shikarpur and Kashmore / Kandhkot.
