KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the Law department to appoint 25 special prosecutors on urgent basis so that the newly established Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) can start functioning, a statement said on Wednesday.
“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 the implement of the decisions taken in last Apex Committee meeting here at the CM House.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to Chief Minster on Law and Anti-Corruption Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, Principal Secretary Alamuddin Bullo, Home Secretary Riaz Soomro and Law Secretary.
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 taken. He also asked the chief secretary about the status of the decision.
He said that there were 19 ATCs working in the province including 10 in Karachi and nine in other districts.
The Apex committee had decided to establish 11 more courts, seven out of them would start functioning from next month (September 2016). Therefore, appointment of special prosecutors was very necessary.
Murtaza said that the requisition for the appointment of 200 special public prosecutors for prosecution and Investigation had been sent to the Sindh Public Service Commission but it was taking time. On this the chief minister said that around 4500 cases were under trial/pending in ACT 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 SPSC. “This was the only option we have to functionalize the to start newly established seven ATCs.”
The home secretary told the chief minister that the seven new ATC courts had been notified. Out of them, six would work in Karachi and one in Ghotki. The remaining four ATCs would be established in February 2017.
The Sindh CM directed the chief secretary to notify a committee to select 25 prosecutors purely on merit. “I would suggest you to form the committee under law secretary with principal SM Law College, additional home secretary and a representative of prosecutor general of B-19 grade as member.”
He also directed the chief secretary too offer Rs 100,000 salary and those who would not perform well would be removed. “But you (CS) have to follow the SPSC to expedite the selection of 200 prosecutors,” he said.
The chief minister 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 from time to time,” he said.
