Fighting terrorism: ATA can combat terror, says Justice Isa

SC judge urges judiciary to use ‘special law’, crackdown on media publicity for terrorists

ISLAMABAD:

Terming the Anti-terrorism Act, 1997 very powerful law to combat the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Justice Qazi Faez Isa of the Supreme Court has urged key players of the administration of the criminal justice system to examine this special law meticulously for its effective application so as to bring perpetrators of terrorist acts to justice. 

He expressed these views at the certificate-awarding ceremony at the conclusion of a week-long National Training of Trainers Workshop for Judges, Prosecutors and Investigators on the Global Legal Framework against Terrorism and Relevant Criminal Measures at the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) on Saturday.

“The Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 is a special law and it provides such tools to judges of anti-terrorism courts (ATCs), prosecutors and investigators which are not available with the ordinary players of the justice system,” Justice Isa said. “Those special tools are often overlooked by the judges, prosecutors and investigators. All of you are required to apply those special tools to effectively check the perpetrators of terrorist acts who have put peace at stake.”

Justice Isa said that according to the ATA, the media should not propagate the ideas of banned organisations. He questioned how many judges of ATCs have applied the relevant section available in this special law.

Stopping of the propagation of extremist/terrorist ideas was very important to combating terrorism in the country, he said.  “The laws, the Constitution, are the will of the people and those need to be respected. Judges only interpret the laws,” he added.

He said intellectual terrorism was more dangerous because what was sown, the same was being reaped

Speaking on the occasion, UNODC Representative Cesar Guedes said the scourge of terrorism continued to pose a threat to global peace and has caused a colossal loss to different countries while also undermining socioeconomic development.

Guedes expressed his commitment to strengthening partnership with the FJA. “This national training workshop reflects our commitment and how closely we are working with the government of Pakistan,” he said.

In his welcome speech, FJA Director General Dr Faqir Hussain spoke at length about the right to a fair trial, due process of law, procedural safeguards in cases of arrest and detention, fundamental human rights, international law, UN conventions, legal instruments, etc. He said the main purpose behind all international laws and domestic laws was dispensation of justice in accordance with the due process of law.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2015.