Apex court judge reiterates faith in ATA to combat terrorism

UNODC representative says terrorism continues to pose threat to global peace

Terming the Anti-terrorism Act 1997 a “very powerful law to combat the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”, Supreme Court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa has urged the key players of administration of the Criminal Justice System to read and examine this special law meticulously for its effective application so as to bring the perpetrators of terrorist acts to justice.

He expressed these views in the certificate awarding ceremony at the conclusion of a week-long National Training of Trainers Workshop for Judges, Prosecutors and Investigators on the Global Legal Framework against Terrorism and Relevant Criminal Measures at the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) Islamabad on Saturday.

“ATA 1997 is a special law and it provides such tools to judges of Anti-terrorism Courts, prosecutors and investigators which are not available with the ordinary players of the justice system. Those special tools are often overlooked by the judges, prosecutors and investigators. All of you are required to apply those special tools to effectively check the perpetrators of terrorist acts who have put peace at stake.”

Justice Isa said that the ATA laws are loud and clear in prohibiting media from propagating the ideas of the banned organisations “but the question was how many judges of the anti-terrorism courts have applied the relevant section available in this special law”. Stopping the propagation of particular extremist/terrorist ideas was very important to combat terrorism in the country, he added.

“The laws and the constitution are the will of the people and should be respected,” he said, adding that only judges should interpret the laws.

The judge also illuminated the learned participants with verses from the glorious Quran, particularly from Surah Mai’da and Surah Nisa regarding the sanctity of human life in Islam, unequivocal condemnation and painful punishment for terrorism and suicide bombing.

“It is unfortunate that nowadays terrorism is associated with the religion of Islam whereas even the Muslim greeting – Assalaam Alaikum–means ‘peace be unto you’,” he said, adding that this powerful message of Islam has been “corrupted”.

He said that intellectual terrorism was more dangerous because what was sown also had to be reaped.

Speaking on the occasion, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) representative Cesar Guedes said that the scourge of terrorism continues to pose threat to global peace and has caused colossal loss to different countries besides undermining socioeconomic development.

“Elimination of terrorism and building of peace is essential for a peaceful world and socioeconomic development.”

Guedes expressed his unflinching commitment to strengthen partnership with the FJA to hold more quality capacity-building programmes in the future.

Presenting his welcome speech and an overview of this unique workshop comprising judges, prosecutors and investigators, Academy DG Dr Faqir Hussain spoke at length about the right to a fair trial, due process of law, procedural safeguards in cases of arrest and detention, fundamental human rights, international law, UN conventions, legal instruments, etcetera. He said that the main purpose behind all international laws and domestic laws was dispensation of justice in accordance with the due process of law.