Pakistan courts to fast-track terror cases

Pakistan's judiciary today decided to accord top priority to terrorism cases and conduct daily hearings to clear out the backlog pending with the country's anti-terrorism courts.
Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk chaired a meeting to formulate strategy for the speedy disposal of terrorism cases. The meeting was attended by high court judges tasked with supervising the anti-terrorism courts and the caretaker judges of the anti-terrorism courts (ATCs).
Today's meeting decided that terrorism cases would be heard in the ATCs on a daily basis, Dawn News reported.
The Chief Justice also directed judges to ensure that witnesses, investigators, and defendants appear in court on specified dates of hearing.

Following the brazen attack by Taliban gunmen on a school in Peshawar last week, the Chief Justice had announced that he would convene a meeting of the high court judges to ensure the speedy disposal of terrorism cases pending with the ATCs.
The decision to fast-track terrorism cases comes days after the government lifted a moratorium on executions in the country, allowing capital punishment for those sentenced to death in terrorism cases.

Administrative judges of the ATCs will conduct monthly meetings and liaison with stakeholders to clear out obstacles, said a statement issued after the meeting.
The statement also advised provincial governments to coordinate with the Chief Justice of their respective high courts in order to move anti-terrorism courts to safer locations.

The top judges also requested the Law and Justice Commission to present recommendations for a review of existing anti-terrorism laws.