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 badly needed as backlog of the cases is on the rise and this is against the spirit of National Action Plan." This he said while presiding over a special meeting to review implement of the decisions taken in last Apex Committee meeting here 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 discussed. Chief Secretary on the occasion said that there are 19 ATCs, including 10 in Karachi and nine in other districts, are working in the province. The Apex committee had decided to establish 11 more courts, of them seven would start functioning from next month (September 2016). Therefore, appointment of special prosecutors was very necessary.
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 was taking time. On this, the chief minister said that around 4500 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-month contract on emergency basis and then refer them to SPSC. "This is the only option we have to functionalize to start newly established seven ATCs.
Secretary Home Riaz Hussain Soomro told the chief minister that new seven ATC courts have been notified. Murad 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, otherwise concerned department must fulfil its commitment," he said.
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