Plan to shift eight ATCs from Clifton to central jail green-lit

Construction of six of eight ATC buildings completed, meeting informed

In view of prevailing security risks, Sindh’s chief minister has approved the proposal to shift eight anti-terrorism courts (ATCs) from Clifton to the Central Jail Karachi.

Murad Ali Shah took the decision at the CM House on Monday during a meeting that was convened to discuss matters relating to security of courts.

The chief executive said the police had submitted a report informing him that the situation of moving inmates being tried in terrorism cases from the central prison to the ATCs in Clifton was quite alarming. “The police have to deploy around 1,500 officials for their security.”

Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon told the meeting that construction of six of the eight ATC buildings had been completed. “One court space in the jail is vacant, while the space for another has also been made available.”

On this the CM approved the proposal of shifting the eight ATCs in Clifton to the central jail and directed the CS to issue the notification announcing the decision. “This is a most urgent and grave matter and must be taken seriously.”

There are 10 ATCs operating in Karachi. The chief executive directed CS Memon to take necessary measures to provide security to the city courts as well as the Malir courts.

“I suggest you [the CS] to meet the provincial police chief and review the current security measures for these courts,” said CM Shah, adding that a similar directive should be forwarded to the commissioner and DIGs for improving security arrangements of courts and other relevant establishments.

The meeting was also attended by Advocate General Zamir Ghumro, CM’s Principal Secretary Naveed Kamran Baloch, Finance Secretary Hassan Naqvi and other officials.

On December 13 in a special apex committee meeting reviewing the Karachi operation, it was decided that six ATCs operating in Clifton would be shifted to the newly constructed courts inside the central jail.

Around three weeks before the meeting the then chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, inaugurated the first completed phase of the new ATC building during an inaugural ceremony for six new ATCs at the central prison.

The complex was to have a total of 10 ATCs, and the remaining four were slated to be completed by April 2017. Moreover, tenders for the construction of 10 more ATCs were also issued.

This past Friday prison authorities submitted a report to an ATC to explain why they were reluctant to produce two inmates, believed to be Lashkar-e-Jhangvi terrorists, in court.

Ishaq, alias Bobby, and Asim, alias Capri, are accused of killing famous Qawwal Amjad Sabri and also murdering paramilitary soldiers, anti-polio workers and police personnel.

The court was informed that the two accused were involved in high-profile murder cases and, therefore, they should be tried inside the prison.

The report referred to the directive of the Sindh IG prisons that had restrained the jail authorities from moving the accused to a court outside the prison.

The report added that the home department had been approached for holding the trial of the accused in a court inside the central prison.