 The government has decided to expedite anti-terrorist cases pending in various courts to curb terrorism in Pakistan.
"You a terrorist?"
"Nope!"
"Hokay. Next case!" |
This decision was made at an inter-ministerial meeting between Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, the interior minister, and Wasi Zafar, the law minister. The meeting was held at the law ministry and officials and experts of both sides attended. Sources privy to the meeting told Daily Times that the government would request chief justices of the Supreme Court and provincial high courts to hear pending terrorism cases early. The meeting observed that the rate of disposal of cases was far less than the rate of arrival of fresh cases and because of this a huge backlog had been created in not only anti-terrorism courts (ATCs) but also in the high courts and the Supreme Court.
| "Cheeze, Chaudry! Back off! Y'r arrestin' 'em faster than we can turn 'em loose!" |
In many cases a person is convicted but his appeal remains in the superior courts for an indefinite period, sources said. After the meeting, Sherpao told Daily Times that various proposals and measures to make investigation and prosecution more effective in anti-terrorism cases had been considered. "There are 940 cases in various accountability courts for various reasons. We want expeditious disposal of these cases," he said.
| In that case, why not just shoot them? Or blow them up? |
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