Special allowances proposed for ATC prosecutors

Report says they are not provided risk allowance, security or transportation facilities.

LAHORE:

The lives of prosecutors handling the cases of high-profile suspects in the Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) of Punjab are increasingly endangered, a document submitted to the provincial chief minister has claimed.

The prosecutors are facing “constant threats and dangers”, according to the summary prepared by the Public Prosecution Department secretary. The summary, whose contents were made available to The Express Tribune, pointed out that the prosecutors were performing their duties “without security, risk allowance and official vehicles”.

It proposed an upward revision in allowances for these prosecutors in addition to other benefits.

It also noted that the province of Punjab was involved in the war against terrorism and the work of the public prosecutors posted in ATCs had become more sensitive and dangerous due to a wave of terror attacks.

In stark contrast to public prosecutors, other components of the criminal justice system such as police department personnel and judiciary representatives are being provided all necessary facilities including handsome pay packages, transportation and security, the document said.

The prosecutors who work for the conviction of terror suspects face grave dangers, especially from the abettors and accomplices of the men on trial.

The summary underscored the need for prosecutors to be facilitated by the government and donor agencies in the same manner that the police department and judiciary were being facilitated.

For instance, the officers working for the counter-terrorism unit of the police department are being given risk allowance and other monetary benefits to encourage their work and uplift their morale.

ATC judges are also being given special allowances and special transportation facilities. However, none of these facilities are available to the public prosecutors serving ATCs in Punjab.

Their job is no less “dangerous, demanding and arduous” as compared to other components of the criminal justice system.

For this purpose, the department has recommended a revision in the emoluments of the anti-terrorism prosecutors and bringing them at par with other stakeholders of the criminal justice system.

At present the Public Prosecution Department is paying an allowance of Rs75,000 to the Additional Prosecutor General (BPS-19) working in the high court, along with an official vehicle.

The department proposes that all the public prosecutors posted in ATCs be allowed a special allowance of Rs75,000 per month with effect from August 1, 2012. In addition, it sought an additional grant of Rs15.30 million along with official vehicles of 1300 cc car costing Rs27.20 million as a one-time expense, the summary added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2012.