Library planned at ATC building in Clifton

Special courts to be shifted to central jail after Sept 18 for security purposes

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to establish a well-equipped public library in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) building in Clifton from where ATC courts are being shifted to Central Jail, Karachi.

Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah announced this decision while presiding over a meeting on the shifting of ATC courts operation at Clifton to Central Jail, Karachi. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Imdad Pitafi, Sohail Anwar Siyal and Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, Advocate-General Zamir Ghumro, Principal Secretary to the CM Sohail Rajput, Home Secretary Qazi Shahid Parvaiz and others.



The Sindh government is constructing 10 ATC courts at Central Jail, Karachi and work is almost in its final stage. The CM directed Siyal and Lanjar to expedite the remaining work.

"I want the courts to be ready for shifting by September 16 and shifting must be started from September 18," the CM said.
Shah said he has decided to establish a well-equipped public library with additional digital facilities at the site of the special courts.

"Students, boys and girls, senior citizens and other people will have enough reading material to refresh themselves with a subject of their choice," he said, adding that there would also be a coffee house for visitors of the library.

The CM was told that air conditioners and closed-circuit television cameras have yet to be fixed in the new courts being constructed at the central jail. Shah directed the home secretary to get them fixed within four days and report back to him.



The chief secretary was directed to prepare a scheme for the establishment of the library at the site of the courts. "I will release special funds for the purpose and want to give the gift of a beautiful library on the seaside to the people of this city," he said.

Presently six special courts are functioning at Clifton. It causes serious security issues when suspects in terrorism cases are transported from central jail to these courts in Clifton.

The police department deploys 700 personnel at different spots for their security. Therefore, keeping in view the gravity of the situation, the government had decided to construct a special court building at Central Jail, Karachi along with the residence of judges and their concerned staff members. Now, the court buildings inside the jail are almost complete.