Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the law department to appoint 25 special prosecutors on urgent basis so that newly-established anti-terrorism courts can start functioning.
“This cannot be delayed any more. Efficient prosecution in ATC cases is urgently needed as backlog of the cases is on the rise which is against the spirit of National Action Plan,” he said.
The chief minister said this while presiding over a special meeting to review implement of the decisions taken in last apex committee meeting at the CM House on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Advisor to CM on Law & Anti-Corruption Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, Principal Secretary Alamuddin Bullo, Secretary Home Riaz Soomro and secretary law.
The chief minister said that in the last apex committee meeting the issues of establishment of new anti-terrorism courts and appointment of 200 more prosecutors were discussed.
The chief secretary told him that there are 19 ATCs – 10 in Karachi and nine in other districts – which presently working in the province. The apex committee decided to establish 11 more courts and seven of them seven would start functioning from next month (September 2016).
Advisor to Chief Minister Murtaza Wahab said that requisition for the appointment of 200 special public prosecutors for prosecution and investigation has been sent to Sindh Public Service Commission but it will take some time.
The chief minister said that around 4,500 cases are under trial/pending in ATC courts. “Therefore, we cannot wait for SPSC,” he said and directed the chief secretary to appoint 25 prosecutors on a six months contract on emergency basis and then refer them to the SPSC. “This is the only option we have to start newly-established seven ATCs.”
Secretary Home Riaz Hussain Soomro told the chief minister that new seven ATC courts had been notified.
Syed Murad Ali Shah made it clear that the decisions taken in the apex committee meeting must be implemented in true letter and spirit. “I would keep them reviewing time to time and the concerned department must fulfill its commitment,” he said.
