Against the state: ‘Can terrorism cases be dismissed on reconciliation?’

A bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday sought assistance from the Punjab Prosecution Department on the matter of reconciliation in cases registered under the Anti Terrorism Act.


Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani observed that terrorism was a crime against the state and reconciliation in such cases was out of question. The bench was hearing an appeal of a murder convict seeking acquittal on the basis of a settlement with the complainant. Asif Siddique of Gujranwala had killed four people in 2002 and had been tried by an Anti Terrorism Court. He was sentenced to death. His counsel said that he had reconciled with the legal heirs of those murdered and should therefore be acquitted. The bench questioned the appellant’s counsel how a person convicted under anti terrorism law could be acquitted following a settlement after several judgments laying down that a settlement was not permitted under the law.