ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Administrative Judges of Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATC) was convened today at the Supreme Court of Pakistan, chaired by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi. The session focused on evaluating the performance of ATCs and identifying key challenges to ensure the swift dispensation of justice in anti-terrorism cases. Attendees included monitoring judges from the Supreme Court, including Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Musarrat Hilali, and Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan, along with Prosecutors General from all provinces and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

According to Supreme Court of Pakistan, the meeting highlighted a backlog of 2,273 pending ATC cases across the country, with 1,372 of these cases awaiting resolution in Sindh alone. Chief Justice Afridi expressed concern over the delays and emphasized the need to expedite these cases. The discussion addressed several challenges such as ensuring witness security, facilitating online witness appearances, and enhancing Forensic Scientific Laboratories (FSL) to support evidence-based decisions. The need for additional ATC courts to manage high caseloads was also discussed.

Chief Justice Afridi directed that the FSL in Sindh provide support to Balochistan in establishing FSL labs in Quetta. He also suggested accommodating ATC judges completing their terms in softer positions and proposed that outstanding judges be offered foreign training opportunities with support from the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.

The Chief Justice urged the Attorney General for Pakistan and the Prosecutors General of each province to address these issues with their respective governments. He called for coordinated efforts to improve the infrastructure and resources of ATCs, which are crucial for delivering timely and fair outcomes in anti-terrorism cases.