THE

ANTI-TERRORISM ACT, 1997

ACT NO. XXVII OF 1997
20th August, 1997
An Act to provide for the prevention of terrorism,
sectarian violence and for speedy trial of heinous offences;

The following Act of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) received the assent of the president on the 16th
August, 1997, is hereby published for general information:--
WHEREAS It is expedient to provide for the prevention of terrorism, sectarian violence and for speedy
trial of heinous offences and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto;
It is hereby enacted as follows:-

1. Short title and commencement.--- (1) This Act may called the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
(2) it extends to the whole of Pakistan.
(3) It shall come into force at once.

Punjab Province.
For the purposes of the prevention and punishment of the commission of terrorist acts and scheduled
offences to have resort to the provisions of the said act for the whole of the province of Punjab.

2. Definitions. --- In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, ---
(a) “armed forces” means the Military, Naval and Air Forces of Pakistan and the Reserves of such
Forces;
(b) “civil armed forces” means the Frontier Constabulary, Frontier Corps, Pakistan Coast Guards,
Pakistan Rangers or any other civil armed force notified by the Federal Government as such;
(c) “Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898);
(d) “child” means a person who at the time of the commission of the offence has not attained the age of
the eighteen years;
(e) “Court” means an Anti-Terrorism Court established under section 13;
(f) “explosives” means any bomb, grenade, dynamite, or explosive substance capable of causing an
injury to any person or damage to any property and includes any explosive substances as defined in the
Explosives Act, 1884 (IV of 1884);
(g) “fire-arms” means any or all types and gauges of handguns, rifles and shotguns, whether
automatic, semi-automatic or bolt action, and shall include all other fire-arms as defined in the Arms
Ordinance, 1965 (W.P. Ord. XX of 1965);
(h) “fine” means a pecuniary amount to be determined by the Court having regard to the facts and
circumstances of the case;
(i) “Government” means the Federal Government or, as the case may be, the Provincial Government;
(j) “grievous”, in relation to bodily injury, means any emasculation, mutilation, incapacitation,
disfigurement or severe harm or hurt; and in relation to property, means severe loss; damage or destruction;
(k) “High Court” means the High Court having territorial jurisdiction in respect of the area for which
an Anti-Terrorism Court has been established;
(l) “hijacking” means any unlawful seizure or exercise of control, or any attempt at unlawful seizure or
exercise of control, of an aircraft, by force, violence, threat or any form of obstruction, directly or through any
other person, from within or outside the aircraft;
(m) “hostage-taking” means the holding of a person captive with threats made to kill or harm that
person if demands are not met;
(n) “kidnapping for ransom” means the action of conveying any person from any place, without his
consent, or by force compelling or by any deceitful means inducing him, to go from any place, and unlawfully
detaining him and demanding or attempting to demand, money, pecuniary or other benefit from him or from
another person, as a condition of his release;
(o) “meeting” means a meeting of two or more persons, whether in public or private;
(p) “organization” means any group, combination or body of persons acting under a distinctive name;
(q) “proscribed organization” means any organization using a name which is listed in the First
Schedule under section 11B;
(r) “public servant” shall have the same meaning as in Section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 or in
any other law for the time being in force;

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 (s) “Schedule” means a Schedule to this Act;
(t) “Scheduled offence” means an offence as set out in the Third Schedule;
(u) “sectarian” means pertaining to, devoted to, peculiar to, or one which promotes the interest of a
religious sect, or sects, in a bigoted or prejudicial manner;
(v) “sectarian hatred” means hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to religion,
religious sect, religious persuasion, or religious belief;
(w) “serious” means dangerous to life or property;
(x) “terrorism” or “act of terrorism” has the meaning as assigned to it in section 6;
(y) “terrorist” has the meaning as assigned to it in section 6(5).
(z) “terrorist investigation” means an investigation of;
(a) the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under this Act;
(b) an act which appears to have been done for the purposes of terrorism;
(c) the resources of a proscribed organization;
(d) the commission, preparation or instigation of an offence under this Act; or
(e) any other act for which investigation may be necessary for the purposes of this Act.
(aa) “terrorist property” means:
(i) (a) money or other property which is used or is likely to be used for the purposes of terrorism
(including any resources of a proscribed organization);
(b) proceeds of the commission of acts of terrorism;
(c) proceeds of acts carried out for the purposes of terrorism; and
(ii) In sub-section (i) above;
(a) a reference to proceeds of an act, includes reference to any property which wholly or
partly, and directly or indirectly, represents the proceeds of the act (including payments
of other rewards in connection with the commission);
(b) the reference to an organization's resources includes a reference to any money or
other property which is applied or made available, or is to be applied or made available,
for use by the organization, and includes assets of any kind, whether tangible or
intangible, movable or immovable, and legal documents or instruments in any form,
whether written, electronic or digital, and shares, securities, bonds, drafts and letters of
credit; and
(c) a reference to money includes a reference to any cash which means any coins, notes
in any currency, postal orders, money orders, bank credit, travelers' cheques, bank
cheques, bankers' drafts, and such other kinds of monetary instruments as the Federal
Government may by order specify;
(bb) “weapon” means any item which can be used to injure or cause bodily harm, and includes any
type of fire-arm, explosive, sword, dagger, knuckle-duster, stengun, bomb, grenade, rocket launcher, mortar or
any chemical, biological weapon or any other thing which can be used for causing injury, hurt, harm or
destruction of person or property, and includes 'illicit arms' as defined in the Surrender of Illicit Arms Act,
1991 (XXI of 1991); and
(cc) all other terms and expressions used but not defined in this Act, shall have the meanings as are
assigned to them in the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, or the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.

Court Decisions
Terrorist Act : —Not every disruption of or interference with the duties of a public servant or every
coercion, intimidation or violence against a public servant which attracts the definition of “terrorism”
contained in S. 6, Anti-terrorism Act, 1997--- Provisions of S. 6(2)(1), (m) and (n) of the said act speak of
“serious interference”; “serious disruption”; “serious coercion or intimidation” or “serious violence” against a
public servant—Word “serious” has been defined by S. 2(w) of the said act to mean “dangerous to life or
property” – Where facts of the case emerging during the investigation, showed that apparently nothing had
been done by the accused which could be termed as dangerous to life or property, application of provisions of
S. 6(2)(1), (m) & (n) to the case appeared t be quite suspect—Alleged interference with or disruption of the
duty of the public servants involved in the present case or coercion or intimidation of or violence against such
public servants being not “serious” enough to attract the definition of “terrorism” as contained in S. 6 of the
Act, Court constituted under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 had no jurisdiction to try the case. PLD 2003 Lah.
588

3. Omitted

4. Calling in of armed forces and civil armed forces in aid of civil powers.--- (1) It shall be lawful
for the Federal Government to order, and subject to sub-section (2), for the provincial Government to secure,
the presence of armed forces and civil armed forces in any area for the prevention and punishment of terrorist
acts and scheduled offences in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
 (2) If, in the opinion of the provincial Government, the presence of armed forces, or civil armed
forces, is necessary in order to prevent the commission of Government to direct the presence or posting of
units or personnel of the armed forces, or civil armed forces, in such numbers as may be deemed necessary for
the Prevention or control of terrorist acts or scheduled offences.
(3) The Federal Government may decide whether the requirements of the situation call for the
deployment of:--
(i) the civil armed forces; or
(ii) the armed forces,
and on so deciding shall, by means to a notification in the official Gazette issued under clause (i) or (ii)
or both, authorise and direct the posting thereof.

5. Use of armed forces and civil armed forces to prevent terrorism. (1) Any police officer, or
member of the armed forces, or civil armed forces, who is present or deployed in any area may, after giving
sufficient warning, use the necessary force to prevent the commission of terrorist acts or scheduled offences,
and in so doing shall, in the case of an officer of the armed forces or civil armed forces, exercise all the powers
of a police officer under the code.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), an
officer of the police, armed forces and civil armed forces may:-
(i) after giving prior warning use such force as may be deemed necessary or appropriate, bearing
in mind all the facts and circumstances of the situation, against any person who is committing a
terrorist act or a scheduled offence, and it shall be lawful for any such officer, or any superior
officer, to fire, or order the firing upon any person or persons against whom he is authorized to
use force in terms hereof;
(ii) arrest, without warrant, any person who has committed an act of terrorism or a scheduled
offence or against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed, or is about to
commit, an such act or offence; and
(iii) enter and search, without warrant any premises to make any arrest or to take possession of any
property, fire-arm, weapon or article used, or likely to be used, in the commission of any
terrorist act or scheduled offence.
(3) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) or (2) shall affect the provisions of Chapter IX of the Code
and the Provisions of section 132 of the Code shall apply to any person acting under this section.

6. Terrorism. --- (1) In this Act, “terrorism” means the use or threat of action where:
(a) the action falls within the meaning of sub-section (2), and
(b) the use or threat is designed to coerce and intimidate or overawe the Government or the public
or a section of the public or community or sect or create a sense of fear or insecurity in society;
or
(c) the use or threat is made for the purpose of advancing a religious, sectarian or ethnic cause.
(2) An “action” shall fall within the meaning of sub-section (1), if it:
(a) involves the doing of anything that causes death;
(b) involves grievous violence against a person or grievous bodily injury or harm to a person;
(c) involves grievous damage to property;
(d) involves the doing of anything that is likely to cause death or endangers a person's life;
(e) involves kidnapping for ransom, hostage-taking or hijacking;
(f) incites hatred and contempt on religious, sectarian of ethnic basis to stir up violence or cause
internal disturbance;
(g) involves stoning, brick-bating or any other forms of mischief to spread panic;
(h) involves firing on religious congregations, mosques, imambargahs, churches, temples and all
other places or worship, or random firing to spread panic, or involves any forcible takeover of
mosques or other places of worship;
(i) creates a serious risk to safety of the public or a section of the public, or is designed to frighten
the general public and thereby prevent them from coming out and carrying on their lawful
trade and daily business, and disrupts civic, life;
(j) involves the burning of vehicles or any other serious form of arson;
(k) involves extortion of money (“bhatta”) or property;
(l) is designed to seriously interfere with or seriously disrupt a communications system or public
utility service;
(m) involved serious coercion or intimidation of a public servant in order to force him to discharge
or to refrain from discharging his lawful duties; or
(n) involves serious violence against a member of the police force, armed forces, civil armed forces,
or a public servant.
(3) The use or threat of use of any action falling within sub-section (2), which involves the use of fire-
arms, explosives or any other weapon, is terrorism, whether or not sub-section 1(c) is satisfied.
 (4) In this section “action” includes an act or a series of acts.
(5) In this Act, terrorism, includes any act done for the benefit of a proscribed organization.
(6) A person who commits an offence under this section or any other provision of this Act, shall be
guilty of an act of terrorism.
(7) In this Act, a “terrorist” means;
(a) a person who has committed an offence of terrorism under this Act, and is or has been
concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism;
(b) a person who is or has been, whether before or after the coming into force of this Act,
concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism, shall also be
included in the meaning given in clause (a) above.”
Court Decisions
Terrorist act -- Commission of act must not have necessarily created panic and terror among the
people—Courts have only to see whether the terrorist act was such which would have the tendency to create
sense to fear or insecurity in the minds of the people or any section of society and it psychological impact on
their minds—Such act also must not have necessarily taken place within the view of general public—Act
having taken place in a barbaric and gruesome manner which has created fear and insecurity certainly falls
within the purview of the Anti-terrorism Act, 1997. PLD 2003 SC 224
Fright, dread or an apprehension in the mind of a person induced by a horrible act of a person or
causing fear and terror to the people is “terrorism” and if an act done by a person is a source of terror in any
section of people which may cause damage to life or property of an individual is a “terrorist act” and is an
offence as defined in S. 6 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and punishable under S. 7 of the said Act. PLD 2003
SC 396
Not every disruption of or interference with the duties of a public servant or every coercion,
intimidation or violence against a public servant which attracts the definition of “terrorism” contained in S. 6,
Antiterrorism Act, 1997--- Provisions of S. 6(2)(1), (m) and (n) of the said act speak of “serious interference”;
“serious disruption”; “serious coercion or intimidation” or “serious violence” against a public servant—Word
“serious” has been defined by S. 2(w) of the said act to mean “dangerous to life or property” – Where facts of
the case emerging during the investigation, showed that apparently nothing had been done by the accused
which could be termed as dangerous to life or property, application of provisions of S. 6(2)(1), (m) & (n) to the
case appeared t be quite suspect—Alleged interference with or disruption of the duty of the public servants
involved in the present case or coercion or intimidation of or violence against such public servants being not
“serious” enough to attract the definition of “terrorism” as contained in S. 6 of the Act, Court constituted
under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 had no jurisdiction to try the case. PLD 2003 Lah. 588

Jurisdiction --- Amendment in the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, by ordinance XXXIX of 2001 was under
sub-Constitutional legislation, therefore, Art. 264 of the Constitution (1973) was not applicable, but S. 6-A of
the General Clauses Act would be applicable – After the promulgation of the said ordinance on 14-8-2001 the
Anti-Terrorism Court had no jurisdiction to try the cases of vehicle-snatching—offence under S. 13-D of the
West Pakistan Ordinance, 1965, was also triable along with the offence of vehicle-snatching as provided under
the Schedule appended to the Anti-terrorism Act, 1997, but after the said amendment such offence could not
be tried by the Anti-Terrorism court—Impugned judgments were consequently set aside being without
jurisdiction and the cases were remanded to Trial Court with the direction to send the same to the Court
having jurisdiction in the matter. PLD 2003 Kar. 71
Mere asking the complainant to leave his motorcycle and run away could hardly create any sense of
fear and insecurity in the public-Vague allegation about show of fire-arms had been leveled by the
complainant in the report--- Prosecution had attributed a single fire to one of the accused while the
complainant was running away who had even not offered any resistance to compel the accused to open fire---
No crime empty was recovered from the place of occurrence--- Manner in which the incident had allegedly
taken place, confessional statement of one accused, selling of liquor by the complainant at the place of
occurrence, finding of stolen property by the Excise Constable and other circumstances to the case, did not
bring the case within the purview of S.6 or the Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997--- Offence committed
by the accused had no nexus with the object of the said Act--- Anti-Terrorism Court, therefore, could not take
cognizance of the case--- Cases of vehicle snatching and criminal trespass (illegal Qabza) after the
promulgation of Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) ordinance (XXXIX of 2001) were not conversed by Anti-
Terrorism Court --- PLD 2003 Quetta 11.
Appreciation of evidence—Allegation against accused persons was that they entered the house of
complainant duly armed with daggers and took valuable articles from house of complainant—Accused had
contended that in circumstances it was purely a case of robbery by commission of lurking house-trespass
falling under relevant sections of P.P.C and not a case falling under any clause of S. 6(2) or any other provision
of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997—Validity—Section 6(2)(c) of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 speaks of “involves
grievous damage to property” – Damage to property was quite a distinct act from dishonestly/forcibly taking
away property out of possession of owner/possessor—In former case (damage to property), damage was done
to property, whether movable or immovable, whether partially or totally, without taking possession of the
property while in latter case (dishonestly/forcibly taking away property out of possession of owner), movable
property vide definition of theft contained in S. 378, P.P.C was dishonestly taking away of possession of any
person without damage to property—Case of accused, in circumstances, would not fall within provision of S.
6(2)(c) of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997—In order to bring the case within jurisdiction of Special Court constituted
under Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, it would be necessary that offence must fall in any of the provisions of cls. (a)
to (n) of subsection (2) or (3) of S.6 of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 and must fulfil one of the conditions laid down
in cl. (b) or (c) of subsection (1) of S. 6 Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997—An act would amount to terrorism only
where use or threat of action was designed to coerce and intimidate the Government or the public or a section
of the public or community or sect or creating a sense of fear or insecurity in society or same was made for the
purpose of advancing a religious, sectarian or ethnic cause—In the present case though one of the conditions
laid down in S. 6(1)(b) & (c) namely “by creating a sense of insecurity in the society” was available, but offence
against accused did not fall in any of cls. (a) to (n) of subsection (2) of S. 6 or within provisions of subsection (3)
of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997—Anti-Terrorism Court, in circumstances, had no jurisdiction to try the accused
persons—Conviction and sentences of accused persons and acquittal of co-accused, were set aside and case
was remanded to the sessions judge who would conduct trial of accused persons de novo in accordance with
law. PLD 2003 Pesh 164

7. Punishment for acts of terrorism. Whoever commits an act of terrorism under section 6, whereby: ---
(a) death of any person is caused, shall be punishable, on conviction, with death or with imprisonment
for life, and with fine; or
(b) he does anything likely to cause death or endangers life, but death or hurt is not caused, shall be
punishable, on conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall be not less than five
years but may extend to fourteen years and with fine;
(c) grievous bodily harm or injury is caused to any person, shall be punishable, on conviction, with
imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than seven years but may extend to
imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to a fine; or
(d) grievous damage to property is caused, shall be punishable on conviction, with imprisonment, of
either description for a term not less than ten years and not exceeding fourteen years, and shall also be liable to
fine; or
(e) the offence of kidnapping for ransom or hostage-taking has been committed, shall be punishable, on
conviction, with death or imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to forfeiture of property; or
(f) the offence of hijacking, has been committed, shall be punishable, on conviction, with death or
imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to forfeiture of property and fine;
(g) the act of terrorism committed falls under section 6(2)(f) and (g), shall be punishable, on conviction,
with imprisonment of not less than six months and not more than three years and with fine; or
(h) the act of terrorism committed falls under clause (h) to (n) of sub-section (2) of section 6, shall be
punishable, on conviction, to imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than ten years and with
fine; and
(i) any other act of terrorism not falling under clauses (a) to (h) above or under any other provision of
this Act, shall be punishable, on conviction, to imprisonment of not less than six months and not more than
five years or with fine or with both.
Court Decisions
Fright, dread or an apprehension in the mind of a person induced by a horrible act of a person or
causing fear and terror to the people is “terrorism” and if an act done by a person is a source of terror in any
section of people which may cause damage to life or property of an individual is a “terrorist act” and is an
offence as defined in S. 6 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and punishable under S. 7 of the said Act. PLD 2003
SC 396
Appreciation of evidence—Allegation against accused persons was that they entered the house of
complainant duly armed with daggers and took valuable articles from house of complainant—Accused had
contended that in circumstances it was purely a case of robbery by commission of lurking house-trespass
falling under relevant sections of P.P.C and not a case falling under any clause of S. 6(2) or any other provision
of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997—Validity—Section 6(2)(c) of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 speaks of “involves
grievous damage to property” – Damage to property was quite a distinct act from dishonestly/forcibly taking
away property out of possession of owner/possessor—In former case (damage to property), damage was done
to property, whether movable or immovable, whether partially or totally, without taking possession of the
property while in latter case (dishonestly/forcibly taking away property out of possession of owner), movable
property vide definition of theft contained in S. 378, P.P.C was dishonestly taking away of possession of any
person without damage to property—Case of accused, in circumstances, would not fall within provision of S.
6(2)(c) of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997—In order to bring the case within jurisdiction of Special Court constituted
under Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, it would be necessary that offence must fall in any of the provisions of cls. (a)
to (n) of subsection (2) or (3) of S.6 of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 and must fulfil one of the conditions laid down
in cl. (b) or (c) of subsection (1) of S. 6 Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997—An act would amount to terrorism only
where use or threat of action was designed to coerce and intimidate the Government or the public or a section
of the public or community or sect or creating a sense of fear or insecurity in society or same was made for the
purpose of advancing a religious, sectarian or ethnic cause—In the present case though one of the conditions
laid down in S. 6(1)(b) & (c) namely “by creating a sense of insecurity in the society” was available, but offence
against accused did not fall in any of cls. (a) to (n) of subsection (2) of S. 6 or within provisions of subsection (3)
of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997—Anti-Terrorism Court, in circumstances, had no jurisdiction to try the accused
persons—Conviction and sentences of accused persons and acquittal of co-accused, were set aside and case
was remanded to the sessions judge who would conduct trial of accused persons de novo in accordance with
law. PLD 2003 Pesh 164

7A. Omitted
7B. Omitted

8. Prohibition of acts intended or likely to stir up sectarian hatred. A person who.---

(a) uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour; or
(b) displays, publishes or distribute any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting;
or
(c) distributes or shows or plays a recording of visual images or sounds which are threatening,
abusive or insulting; or
(d) has in his possession written material or a recording or visual images or sounds which are
threatening, abusive or insulting with a view to their being displayed or published by himself
or another,
shall be guilty of an offence if :--
(i) he intends thereby to stir up sectarian hatred; or
(ii) having regard to all the circumstances, sectarian hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby.

9. Punishment for offence under section 8.--- Whoever contravenes any provision of section 8
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and with fine, or with both.

10. Power to enter or search.--- if any officer of the police, armed forces or civil armed forces is
satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person has possession of written material or a
recording in contravention of section 8 he may enter and search the premises 1”Only after recording in writing
reasons for such belief and after serving on the person in occupation of the premises a copy of reasons
recorded by him before conducting such search.” where it is suspected the material or recording is situated
and take possession of the same:
Provided that the concerned officer shall first record in writing his reasons for such belief and serve a
copy thereof either on the person or on the premises.
Legal Amendments
1. Added by the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Act, 1998

11. Power to order forfeiture.—(1) An Anti Terrorism Court by which a person is convicted of an
offence under section 9 shall order to be forfeited any material or recording referred to therein.
(2) Where the person who collected the material or recording cannot be found or identified the
Anti Terrorism Court on the application of the official seizing the material or recording shall forfeit the
material or recording to the State to be disposed of as directed by it.

11-A. Organizations concerned in terrorism. --- For the purposes of this Act, an organization is
concerned in terrorism if it: ---
(a) commits or participates in acts of terrorism;
(b) prepares for terrorism;
(c) promotes or encourages terrorism;
(d) supports and assists any organization concerned with terrorism;
(e) patronizes and assists in the incitement of hatred and contempt of religious, sectarian or ethnic lines
that stir up disorder;
(f) fails to expel from its ranks or ostracize those who commit acts of terrorism and presents them as
heroic persons; or
(g) is otherwise concerned in terrorism.

11-B. Proscription. --- (1) For the purposes of this Act, an organization is proscribed if: --
(a) the Federal Government, having reason to believe that an organization is concerned in
terrorism, by order, lists it in the First Schedule;
(b) it operates under the same name as an organization listed in the First Schedule or it operates
under a different name; or
(c) the First Schedule is amended by the Federal Government in any way to enforce proscription;
 (2) The Federal Government may, by order, add or remove an organization from the First Schedule or
amend it in any other way.

11C. Right of Review. --- (1) Where any proscribed organization is aggrieved by the order of the
Federal Government made under section 11B, it may, within thirty days of such order, file a review
application, in writing, before the Federal Government, stating the grounds on which it is made, and the
Federal Government shall, after hearing the applicant, decide the matter within ninety days.
(2) An organization whose review application has been refused under sub-section (1) may file an
appeal to the High Court within thirty days of the refusal of the review application.
(3) The Federal Government shall appoint a Proscribed Organizations Review Committee to determine
all review applications under sub-section (1).
11D. Observation Order. --- Where the Federal Government, has reason to believe that an organization
is acting in a manner that it may be concerned in terrorism:
(1) The organization may be kept under observation, if:
(a) the name of the organization is listed in the Second Schedule by order of the Federal
Government; or
(b) it operates under the same name as an organization listed in the Second Schedule.
(2) An organization or a person aggrieved by the observation order passed under sub-section (1)
may file a review application before the Federal Government, which shall, after hearing the
applicant, decide the matter within sixty days.
(3) Where the organization is under observation, the Federal Government may further extend the
period of observation, only after giving the organization an opportunity of being heard.
(4) Each observation period shall be for six months, and may be extended by the Federal
Government only after giving an opportunity of being heard to the organization concerned.

11E. Measures to be taken against a proscribed organization. --- Where any organization shall be
proscribed;
(1) Amongst other measures to be taken by the Federal Government: ---
(a) its offices, if any, shall be sealed;
(b) its accounts, if any, shall be frozen;
(c) all literature, posters, banners, or printed, electronic, digital or other material shall be seized;
and
(d) publication, printing or dissemination of any press statements, press conferences or public
utterances by or on behalf of or in support of a proscribed organization shall be prohibited.
(2) The Proscribed Organization shall submit all accounts of its income and expenditure for its
political and social welfare activities and disclose all funding sources to the competent authority designated by
the Federal Government.

11F. Membership, support and meetings relating to a Proscribed Organization. --- (1) A person is
guilty of an offence if he belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organization.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under sub-section (1) shall be liable on conviction to a term not
exceeding six months' imprisonment and a fine.
(3) A person commits an offence if he;
(a) solicits or invites support for a proscribed organization, and the support is not, or is not
restricted to, the provision of money or other property; or
(b) arranges, manages or assists in managing, or addressing a meeting which he knows is: --
(i) to support a proscribed organization;
(ii) to further the activities of a proscribed organization; or
(iii) to be addressed by a person who belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed
organization.
(4) A person commits an offence if he addresses a meeting, or delivers a sermon to a religious
gathering, by any means whether verbal, written, electronic, digital or otherwise, and the purpose of his
address or sermon, is to encourage support for a proscribed organization or to further its activities.
(5) A person commits an offence if he solicits, collects or raises funds for a proscribed organization.
(6) A person guilty of an offence under sub-section (3), (4) and (5) shall be liable on conviction to a term
of imprisonment not less than one year and not more than five years and a fine.

11G. Uniform. --- A person commits an offence if he--

(a) wears, carries or displays any article, symbol, or any flag or banner connected with or associated
with any proscribed organization; or
(b) carries, wears or displays any uniform, item of clothing or dress in such a way or in such
circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a member or supporter of a proscribed organization.
 (2) A person who commits an offence under sub-section (1) shall be liable by way of summary
procedure to simple imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine or to both.

11H. Funds raising. --- (1) A person commits an offence if he: --

(a) invites another to provide money or other property, and
(b) intends that it should be used, or has reasonable cause to suspect that it may be used, for the
purpose of terrorism.
(2) A person commits an offence if:
(a) he receives money or other property, and
(b) intends that it should be used, or has reasonable cause to suspect that it may be used, for the
purpose of terrorism.
(3) A person commits an offence if he:
(a) provides money or other property; and
(b) knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that it will or may be used for the purposes of
terrorism.
(4) In this section a reference to the provision of money or other property is a reference to its being
given, lent or otherwise made available, whether or not for consideration.

11-I. Use and possession. --- A person commits an offence if: ---
(1) he uses money or other property for the purposes of terrorism; or
(2) he--
(a) possesses money or other property; and
(b) intends that it should be used, or has reasonable cause to suspect that it may be used, for the
purposes of terrorism.

11-J. Funding Arrangements. --- A person commits an offence if he: --

(a) enters into or becomes concerned in an arrangement as a result of which money or other property is
made available or is to be made available to another, and
(b) has reasonable cause to suspect that it will or may be used for the purposes of terrorism.

11K. Money-laundering. --- (1) A person commits an offence if he enters into or becomes concerned in
any arrangement which facilitates the retention or control, by or on behalf of another person, of terrorist
property: --
(a) by concealment.
(b) by removal from the jurisdiction,
(c) by transfer to nominees, or
(d) in any other way.
(2) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under sub-section (1) to prove that he did not
know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the arrangement related to terrorist property.

11L. Disclosure of Information. --- (1) where a person: --

(a) believes or suspects that another person has committed an offence under this Act; and
(b) bases his belief or suspicion on information which comes to his attention in the course of a
trade, profession, business or employment, he commits an offence if he does not disclose to a
police officer as soon as is reasonably practicable his belief or suspicion, and the information on
which it is based.
(2) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under sub-section (1) of this section to prove that
he had a reasonable excuse for not making the disclosure:
Provided that this sub-section does not require disclosure by a professional legal advisor of any information
which he obtains in privileged circumstances.
(3) A person may disclose to a police officer: --
(i) a suspicion on belief that any money or other property is terrorist property or is derived from
terrorist property; or
(ii) any matter on which the suspicion is based.
(4) Sub-section (3) shall have effect notwithstanding any restriction on the disclosure of information
imposed by any law for the time being in force.

11M. Cooperation with the Police. --- (1) A person does not commit an offence under sections 11H to
11K, if he is acting with the express consent of a police officer not below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent.
(2) Subject to sub-section (3) and (4) under this section, a person does not commit an offence under
sections 11H to 11K by involvement in a transaction or arrangement relating to money or other property if he
discloses to a police officer: ---
(a) his suspicion or belief that the money or other property is terrorist property, and
 (b) the information on which his suspicion or belief is based,
(3) Sub-section (2) under this section applies only where a person makes a disclosure—
(a) after he becomes concerned in the transaction concerned;
(b) on his own initiative; and
(c) as soon as is reasonably practicable;
(4) Sub-section (2) under this section does not apply to a person if: --
(a) a police officer forbids him to continue his involvement in the transaction or arrangement to
which the disclosure relates, and
(b) he continues his involvement.
(5) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under sections 11H to 11J to prove that:
(a) he intended to make a disclosure, and
(b) there is reasonable excuse for his failure to do so.

11N. Punishment under sections 11H to 11K. --- Any person who commits an offence under sections
11H to 11K, shall be punishable on conviction with imprisonment for a term not less than six months and not
exceeding five years and with fine.

11O. Seizure and detention. --- An officer authorized by the Provincial Government in this behalf,
hereinafter referred to as the "authorized officer", may seize and detain any cash recovered, if he has
reasonable grounds for suspecting that: --
(a) it is intended to be used for the purposes of terrorism.
(b) it forms the whole or part of the resources of a proscribed organization, and includes any cash
which is applied or made available, or is to be applied or made available, for use by the organization whether
being imported into, or exported from, Pakistan; or
(c) it is terrorist property within the meaning given in Section 2(aa):
Provided that any cash seized under this section shall be released not later than the end of the period of 48
hours beginning with the time when it is seized, unless an application has been made to the Court under
section 11P and an order has been obtained for its detention for a further specified period.

11P. Application by authorized officer to a Court. --- (1) An authorized officer may apply to a Court
for an order under this section in relation to any cash seized under section 11-O.
(2) An order under this section:
(a) shall authorize, the further detention, under section 11-O of the cash to which it relates for a
period specified in the order, if the continued detention of the cash is justified pending
completion of an investigation of it origin or derivation;
(b) shall specify a period which ends not later than the period of three months beginning with the
date of the order; and
(c) shall require notice to be given to the person from whom the cash was seized and to any other
person who is affected by and specified in the order.
(3) Any cash detained under section 11-O if detained for a further specified under this section shall be
held in a profit and loss account and the profit and loss so earned shall be added to it on it on its release or
forfeiture.

11Q. Forfeiture. --- (1) The Court by or before which a person is convicted of an offence under any of
the Sections 11H may make a forfeiture order in accordance with the provisions of this section 11 H to 11 M.
(2) Where a person is convicted of an offence under section 11H(1) or (2) or section 11-I, the Court may
order the forfeiture of any money or other property;
(a) which, at the time of the offence, he had in his possession or under his control; and
(b) which, at that time, he intended should be used, or had reasonable cause to suspect might be
used, for the purposes of terrorism.
(3) Where a person has been convicted under section 11H(3), the Court may order the forfeiture of any
money or other property;
(a) which, at the time of the offence, he had in his possession or under his control, and
(b) which, at the time, he knew or had reasonable cause to suspect would or might be used for the
purposes of terrorism.
(4) Where a person is convicted of an offence under section 11J, the Court may order the forfeiture of
the money or other property;
(a) to which the arrangement in question related; and
(b) which, at the time of the offence, he knew or had reasonable cause to suspect would or might
be used for the purposes of terrorism.
(5) Where a person is convicted of an offence under section 11K, the Court may order the forfeiture of
the money or other property to which the arrangement in question related.
 (6) Where a person is convicted of an offence under any of the sections 11H to 11K, the Court may
order forfeiture of any money or other property which wholly or partly, and directly, or indirectly is received
by any person as a payment or other reward in connection with the commission of the offence.

11R. Authorized officer may apply to Court for forfeiture. (1) Any authorized officer may apply to the
Court for an order forfeiting the cash being detained under sections 11P and 11Q.
(2) The Court may grant an application only if satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the cash is
cash of a kind as defined in Section 11Q, and before so doing must give an opportunity to be heard to any
person;
(a) who is not a party to the proceedings, and
(b) who claims to be the owner of or otherwise interested in any of the cash which can be forfeited
under this section.
(3) An order may be made under this section, whether or not proceedings are brought against any
person for an offence with which the cash is connected.

11S. Appeal against forfeiture order under section 11R. --- (1) Any party to the proceedings in which a
forfeiture order is made under section 11R, may appeal to the High Court against such an order.
(2) An appeal must be brought before the end of the period of thirty days beginning with the date on
which the forfeiture order was made.

11T. Deposit of cash in a fund. --- (1) Any cash to which a forfeiture order under sections 11R and 11S
applies, alongwith the profit and loss accrued, shall be deposited into a special fund to be notified by the
Federal Government: ---
(a) after the expiry of the limitation period within which an appeal against the forfeiture order
may be brought under section 11S(2), or
(b) where an appeal brought under section 11S has been determined and disposed of.
(2) Any fund constituted by the Federal Government under sub-section (1) may also be used to
compensate victims of acts of terrorism or in the case of deceased victims, their dependants.

11U. De-proscription. --- (1) After three years of the disposal of the appeal, if any, or where no appeal
was filed, from the date of the order of proscription, or from the date of any refusal of an application of de-
proscription, the proscribed organization may apply in writing to the Federal Government for the exercise of
its power under section 11B(d) to remove the organization from the First Schedule, where the proscribed
organization feels that it can prove to the satisfaction of the Federal Government that the reasons for its
proscription have ceased to exist.
(2) The Federal Government shall decide such application within a period of ninety days, after
providing a reasonable opportunity of hearing to the applicant.

11V. Directing terrorist activities. --- (1) A person commits an offence if he: ---
(a) directs, at any level, whilst resident in Pakistan or abroad, activities of an organization
concerned with the preparation, instigation or commission of acts of terrorism; or
(b) directs, from within the country or abroad, activities connected with the commission,
preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under sub-section (1) shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for
a maximum term of seven years and to forfeiture or confiscation of his assets within or outside Pakistan.

11W. Printing, publishing, or disseminating any material to incite hatred or giving projection to any
person convicted for a terrorist act or any proscribed organization or an organization placed under
observation or anyone concerned in terrorism. --- (1) A person commits an offence if he prints, publishes or
disseminates any material, whether by audio or video-cassettes or by written; photographic, electronic, digital,
wall-chalking or any other method which incites religious, sectarian or ethnic hatred or gives projection to any
person convicted for a terrorist act, or any person or organization concerned in terrorism or proscribed
organization or an organization placed under observation:
Provided that a factual news report, made in good faith, shall not be construed to mean "projection" for
the purposes of this section.
(2) Any person guilty of an offence under sub-section (1) shall be liable by way of summary procedure,
on conviction, to a maximum term of six months imprisonment and a fine.

11X. Responsibility for creating civil commotion. --- (1) A person commits an offence if he makes any
call for action or shut-down, imposed through the use of threats or force resulting in damage or destruction of
property or injury to person, to intimidate citizens and prevent them from carrying out their lawful trade or
business activity.
 (2) A person guilty of an offence under sub-section (1) shall on conviction be punishable with
imprisonment for a term not less than six months and not more than five years and shall pay compensation as
may be determined by the Court, from the funds of the organization to which he belongs or from his own
personal resources or assets for the hurt or damage or destruction caused as a result of the commission of the
offence under sub-section (1).
(3) A person commits an offence if he addresses a meeting or gathering or delivers a sermon to a
religious gathering by any means whether verbal, written, electronic, digital or otherwise to incite religious,
sectarian or ethnic hatred and contempt, and shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment not less
than six months and not more than three years or fine or with both.

12. Jurisdiction of Anti-Terrorism Court. --- (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the code or in
any other law, a scheduled offence committed in an area in a Province shall be triable only by the Anti-
Terrorism Court exercising territorial jurisdiction in relation to such area.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in contained sub-section (1), if, in respect of a case involving a scheduled
offence committed in any area, the Government, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, is
satisfied that in order to ensure a fair trial, or for the protection and safety of witnesses, that such offence
should be tried by an Anti-Terrorism Court established in relation to any other area, the Government may
make a declaration to that effect.
Explanation. --- Where an Anti-Terrorism Court is established in relation to two or more areas, such
Anti-Terrorism Court shall be deemed, for the purpose of this sub-section to have been established in relation
to such areas.
(3) Where a declaration is made in respect of an offence committed in an area in a province, any
prosecution in respect of such offence shall be instituted only in the Anti-Terrorism Court established in
relation to such area, and, if any prosecution in respect of such offence is pending immediately before such
declaration in any other Court, the same shall stand transferred to such Anti-Terrorism Court and such Anti-
Terrorism Court shall proceed with such case from the stage at which it was pending at that time without the
necessity of recalling any witnesses.

13. Establishment of Anti-Terrorism Court. --- (1) For the purpose of providing for the speedy trial of
the cases referred to in sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 39A, and of scheduled offences, the Federal
Government, or if so directed by the Government, the Provincial Government may establish by notification
one or more Anti-Terrorism Courts in relation to each area
(2). Where more Anti-Terrorism Courts than one have been established in any area, the Government, in
consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court shall designate a Judge of any such Court to be an
administrative Judge and all cases triable under this Act pertaining to the said area shall be filed before the
said Court and such Judge may either (try the cases himself or, assign any case, for trial to any other Anti-
Terrorism Court at any time prior to the framing of the charge. The cases shall be assigned to a Court one case
at a time;
Provided that in order to ensure that the time of the Court is not wasted if for some reason a given case
cannot proceed more than one case can be assigned to it at any time or from time to time.
(3) In respect of a case assigned to a Court under sub-section (2), all orders made or proceedings taken
before the assignment shall be deemed to have been made or taken by the Court to which the case has been
assigned.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2) and sub-section (3), the Federal Government
or if so directed by the Government, the Provincial Government shall in addition to the existing Special Courts
or such other Special Courts as may be established in the area, establish one such additional Special Court
under this Act at the principal seat of the Lahore High Court and the High Court of Sindh and appoint a Judge
of such High Court as a Judge of Special Court in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court
concerned, and where a Judge of a High Court is appointed as a Judge for any area under this Act he shall be
the administrative Judge for that area that such administrative Judge may, in addition to the powers
exercisable under this Act, either suo motu or on the application of any party, at any stage of the proceedings
whether before or after the framing of charge, for sufficient cause including as mentioned in sub-section (1) of
section 28, transfer, withdraw or recall any case pending before any other Special Court in that area and may
either try the case himself or make it over for trial to any other Special Court in that area.
(5) The Special Court to which a case is transferred or recalled for trial under sub-section (4), shall
proceed with the case from this stage at which it was pending immediately before such transfer or recall and it
shall not be bound to recall or rehear any witness who has given evidence and may act on the evidence already
recorded.

14. Composition and appointment of presiding officers of the Anti Terrorism Court.—(1) An
Anti Terrorism Court shall consist of a judge, being a person who:-
(i) “is a judge of a high court, or is” or has been a Sessions judge or an Additional Sessions judge;
or
 (ii) has exercised the powers of a District Magistrate or an Additional District Magistrate and has
successfully completed an advance course in Shariah, (Islamic Law) conducted by the
International Islamic University Islamabad; or
(iii) has for a period of not less than ten years been an advocate of a High Court.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (4), the Federal Government or the Provincial Government,
if directed by the Federal Government to establish a Court under this Act, shall, after consultation with the
Chief Justice of the High Court, appoint a Judge of each Court.
(3) A Judge shall hold office for a period of two and a half years but may be appointed for such further
term or part of term as the Government appointing the Judge may determine.
(4) A Judge may be removed from his office prior to the completion of the period for which he has been
appointed after consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court.]
(5) In case a Judge is on leave, or for any other reasons temporarily unable to perform his duties, the
Government making appointment of such Judge may, after consultation with the chief Justice of the High
Court authorize the Session Judge, having jurisdiction at the principal seat of the Anti-Terrorism Court, to
conduct proceeding of urgent nature so long as such Judge is unable to perform his duties.
Explanation. --- The qualification of being an Advocate for a period of not less than ten years may be
related in the case of a suitable person who is a graduate from an Islamic University and has studied Islamic
Shariah and Fiqah as a major subject.

15. Place of sitting.—(1) Subject to sub-sections (2) and (3), an Anti Terrorism Court shall ordinarily
sit at such place or places as the Government may, by order, specify in that behalf.
(2) The Government may direct that for the trial of a particular case the court shall sit at such place
including the place of occurrence of an offence as it may specify.
(3) Except in a case where a place of sitting has been specified under sub-section (2), an Anti
Terrorism Court may, if it considers it expedient or desirable so to do either suo motu or on the application of
the Public prosecutor sit, for holding the trial of a case at any place including a mosque other than the ordinary
place of its sitting.
Court Decisions
Place of sitting of court :-- Accused is presumed to be innocent unless proved otherwise and in accord
with this presumption and the canons of justice the Criminal procedure Code and the Qanun-e-Shahadat, inter
alia, include safeguards for a fair trial for hocused, and the provision for open trial is one of these safeguards—
Trial in the evil of secrecy may offend said canons without which the trial would lose its credibility—However,
there could be a case or a class of cases, trial of which at the ordinary place of sitting may be hazardous to
public security—Section 15 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, empowering the Government or the Anti-
Terrorism Court to specify the place of trial caters to such kind of cases, but this provision should not, in any
manner, compromise with the requirement of fair trial. PLD 2003 Lah. 450
Anti-Terrorism Court according to subsection (1) of S. 15 the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, would sit at
such a place which the Government might specify including “cantonment area” or “jail Premises” or the court
might direct in terms of subsection (2) of S. 15 the said Act for trial of a particular case at such a place which it
might specify and finally in terms of subsection (3) thereof even the Anti-Terrorism Court itself was competent
to decide the place of trial which it considered expedient or desirable—order of the Home Secretary did not
spell out any reasons, nor such was a mandatory requirement under the law, but a well reasoned and speaking
order ensured transparency and inspired greater confidence—High court in an earlier Constitutional petition,
while upholding the detention of accused, had referred to the seriousness of the case—Omission of reasons in
such circumstances by itself would not make the order of the Home Secretary unlawful in absence of any
apparent mala fides—power with the executive to decide the place to trial did not impinge or independence of
judiciary or conscience of a court—Trial continued to be an open trial which was to be regulated by the Trial
Court with due regard to security of the parties, witnesses and the court itself—Rights of the accused and the
principles of appreciation of evidence would continue to remain the same—Apprehensions of accused thus,
were misconceived—PLD 2003 Lah. 450

16. Oath by the Anti Terrorism Courts.—A judge of an Anti Terrorism Court shall, at the
commencement of a proceeding under this Act, make oath, in the case of a Muslim, on the Holy Quran, to the
effect that he shall decide the case honestly, faithfully and considering himself accountable to Almighty Allah,
and in case of a non-Muslim in accordance with the Constitution, law and his conscience.

17. Powers of the Anti Terrorism Courts with respect to other offences.—When trying any
scheduled offence, an Anti Terrorism Court may also try any offence other than the scheduled offence with
which the accused may, under the Code, be charged at the same trial.

18. Public Prosecutors.—(1) The Government shall appoint in relation to each an Anti Terrorism
Court,or a High Court or Supreme court of Pakistan a Public Prosecutor and may also appoint one or more
Additional Public Prosecutors:
 Provided that the Government may also appoint, to any case or class of cases a Special Public
prosecutor.
(2) Every person appointed as a public Prosecutor or an Additional Public Prosecutor or a Special
Public Prosecutor shall be deemed to be a Public Prosecutor within the meaning of section 492 of the Code,
and the Provisions of the Code shall have effect accordingly.

19. Procedure and powers of the Anti Terrorism Court.—(1) the officer-in-charge of a police-
station shall complete the investigation in respect of a case triable by an Anti Terrorism Court within seven
working days and forward directly to the Anti Terrorism Court a report under section 173 of the Code:
Provided that the Anti Terrorism Court may extend the time within which such report is to be
forwarded in a case where good reasons are shown for not being able to do so within the time specified in this
sub-section.
(2) Any default on the part of an officer-in-charge of a police station, an investigating officer or any
other person required by law to perform any functions in connection with the investigation, that results in, or
has the effect of, delaying investigation or submission of the report under sub-section (1), shall be deemed to
be a willful disobedience of the order of the Anti Terrorism Court and the person committing the default shall
be liable to be punished for contempt of court.
(3) The Anti terrorism Court may directly take cognizance of a case triable by such court without
the case being sent to it under section 190 of the Code.
(4) Omitted
(5) Where, in a case triable by an Anti terrorism Court, an accused has been released from police
custody under section 169 of the Code, or has been remanded to judicial custody, the Anti Terrorism Court
may, on good grounds being shown by a Public prosecutor or a law officer of the Government for reasons to
be recorded in writing, make an order for placing him in police custody for the purpose of further
investigation in the case.
(6) An Anti Terrorism Court shall be deemed to be a Magistrate for purpose of sub-sections (4) and
(5).
(7) The Court shall, on taking cognizance of a case, proceed with the trial from day to day and shall
decide the case within seven days, failing which an application may be made to the Administrative Judge of
the High Court concerned for appropriate directions for expeditious disposal of the case to meet the ends of
justice.
(8) An Anti Terrorism Court shall not, adjourn any trial for any purpose unless such adjournment
is, in its opinion, necessary in the interest of justice and no adjournment shall, in any case, be granted for more
than two working days.
(9) An Anti Terrorism Court shall not, merely by reason of a change is its composition or transfer of
a case under sub-section (3) of section 12, be bound to recall and re-hear any witness who has given evidence
and ma act on the evidence already recorded.
(10) Any accused person may be tried in his absence if the Anti-terrorism court, after such inquiry as
it deems fit, is satisfied that such absence is deliberate and brought about with a view to impeding the course
of justice:
Provided that the accused person shall not be tried under this Sub-section unless a proclamation has
been published in respect of him in at least three national daily newspapers out of which one shall be in the
Urdu language requiring him to appear at a specified place within seven days failing which action may also be
taken against him under section 88 of the Code:
Provided further that the court shall proceed with the trial after taking the necessary step to appoint
and advocate at the expense of the sate to defend the accused person who is to before the Court.
Explanation.—An accused who is tried in this absence under this sub-section shall be deemed not to
have admitted the commission of any offence for which he has been charged.
(11) The Advocate appointed under the second proviso to sub-section (10) shall be a person selected
by the Anti Terrorism Court for the purpose and he shall be engaged at the expense of the Government.
(11A) Nothing contained in sub-section (10) or sub-section (11) shall be construed to deny the accused
the right to consult or be defended by a legal practitioner of his own choice.
(12) If, within sixty days from the date of his conviction, any person tried under sub-section (10)
appears voluntarily, or is apprehended and brought before the Anti Terrorism court, and proves to its
satisfaction that he did not abscond or conceal himself for the purpose of avoiding the proceeding against him,
the Ant Terrorism court shall set aside his conviction and proceed to try him in accordance with law for the
offence with which he is charged.
Provided that the Anti Terrorism court may exercise its powers under this sub-section in a case in
which a person as aforesaid appears before it after the expiration of the said period and satisfies it that he
Could not appear within the said period by reason of circumstances beyond his control.
(13) Pmitted
(14) Subject to the other provision of the Act, a Anti-Terrorism Court Shall, for the purpose of trial of
any offence, have all the powers of a Court of Sessions and shall try such offence as if it were a Court of
Sessions as far as may be in accordance with the procedure prescribed in the Code for trial before a Court of
Sessions.
Court Decisions
Conviction of accused in absentia—Conviction/sentence in the present case was recorded without
providing accused opportunity of hearing and believing the statement of prosecution—Where an accused is
convicted/sentenced in absentia, court is bound to follow the relevant provisions of law strictly. PLD 2003 SC
262
Prerequisites for conviction of accused in absentia—Accused can be convicted/sentenced under S. 21-
L of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, if he absconds and avoids arrest or evades appearance before any inquiry,
investigation or court proceedings or conceals himself and obstructs the course of justice, but before awarding
him punishment court is required to satisfy itself according to S. 19(10) of the said Act that such absence of the
accused is deliberate. PLD 2003 SC 262

20. Omitted

21. Protection to Judges, Counsel Public Prosecutor, witnesses and persons concerned with Court
proceedings. --- (1) The Court may, subject to the availability of resources, make such necessary orders or take
such measures, as it deems fit, within available resources, for the protection of a witness, judge, public
prosecutor, counsel and other persons concerned in proceedings for an offence under this Act, which may also
include the following measures:
(a) Proceedings may be held in camera, or under restricted entry of members of the public, where
necessary for the protection of the Judge, witnesses or a victim's family members or to prevent persons form
crowding or storming the Court to intimidate the Judge or to create a threatening atmosphere;
(b) The Names of Judges, counsel, public prosecutor, witnesses and persons concerned with Court
proceedings shall not be published; and
(c) During any inquiry, investigation or Court proceedings whenever the matter of the identification of
the accused arises, adequate protection shall be provided to a witness identifying any accused, in order to
protect the identity of the witness from the accused.
(2) For purposes of protection of the Judges, accused, witnesses, prosecutors and defence counsel and
anyone concerned with the Court proceedings, the Government may adopt such other measures as may be
appropriate or may be prescribed.
(3) The Government shall extend protection to a Judge, a counsel, public prosecutor and the witnesses
during investigation of an offence and proceedings under this Act, and thereafter, as may be considered
necessary.

21-A. Cordons for Terrorist Investigation. --- (1) An area is a cordoned area for the purposes of a
terrorist investigation under this Act, if it is designated under this section.
(2) A designation may be made only by an officer not below the rank of a DSP, if he considers it
expedient for the purposes of a terrorist investigation.
(3) If a designation is made orally, the officer making it shall confirm it in writing, as soon as is
reasonably practicable.
(4) The officer making a designation shall arrange for the demarcation of the cordoned area, so far as is
reasonably practicable.
(5) An area may be designated a cordoned area for a maximum period of fourteen days, which may be
extended in writing from time to time, with each extension specifying the additional period:
Provided that a designation shall have no effect after 28 days beginning with the day on which it was
made.
(6) Where a person knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a terrorist investigation is being
conducted or is proposed to be conducted, a person commits an offence if he---
(a) discloses to another, or other, anything which is likely to prejudice an investigation; or
(c) chemical, biological, and other weapons.
(5) A child guilty of an offence under sub-section (4) shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a
term not less than six months and not exceeding five years.
(6) A person guilty of an offence under sub-sections (1) and (3) shall be liable on conviction to
imprisonment for a tem not exceeding ten years, or fine or with both.
(7) Training in Terrorism:
(a) A person commits an offence if he provides, generally or specifically, any instruction or training in
acts of terrorism.
(b) A person commits an offence if he receives any instruction or training in acts of terrorism or invites
another, specifically or generally, to receive such instruction or training.
(c) A person guilty of an offence under sub-section (a) and (b) shall, on conviction, be liable to
imprisonment of either description for a term of not less than one year and not more than ten years and fine.
 (d) A person is guilty of an offence if he provides, any instruction or training in acts of terrorism to a
child, and on conviction, shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment of either description for a term not less
than one year and not more than ten years and fine.
(e) A child commits an offence if he provides, generally or specifically, any instruction or training in
acts of terrorism, and on conviction, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than six months and not
more than five years.
(f) A child commits an offence if he receives, generally or specifically, instructions or training in acts of
terrorism, and on conviction, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than six months and not more
than five years.
(8) A Court by which a person is convicted of an offence under this section, may order the forfeiture of
any thing or property which it considers to have been in the person's possession for purposes connected with
the offence, after giving any person, other than the convicted person, who claims to be the owner or is
otherwise interested, an opportunity of being heard.

21D. Bail. --- (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 439, 491, 496, 497, 498, 498A and 561A of
the Code, no Court, other than an Anti-Terrorism Court; a High Court or the Supreme Court of Pakistan, shall
have the power or jurisdiction to grant bail to or otherwise release an accused person in a case triable by an
Anti-Terrorism Court.
(2) All offences under this Act punishable with death or imprisonment not exceeding three years shall
be non-bailable;
Provided that if there appear reasonable grounds for believing that any person accused of non-bailable
offence has been guilty of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life or imprisonment for not
less than ten years, such person shall not be released on bail.
(3) Subject to sub-section (2), the Court may admit a person to bail, unless satisfied that there are
substantial grounds for believing that the person, if released on bail (whether subject to conditions or not),
would:
(a) fail to surrender to custody;
(b) commit an offence while on bail;
(c) interfere with a witness; otherwise obstruct or attempt to obstruct the course of justice, whether in
relation to himself or another person; or
(d) fail to comply with the conditions of release (if any).
(4) In exercising its powers in relation to a person seeking bail under this Act, the Court shall have
regard to such of the following considerations (as well as to any others which it considers relevant)---
(a) the nature and seriousness of the offence with which the person is charged;
(b) the character, antecedents, associations and community ties of the person;
(c) the time which the person has already spent in custody and the time which he is likely to spend in
custody if he is not admitted to bail; and
(d) the strength of the evidence of his having committed the offence.
(5) Without prejudice to any other power to impose conditions on admission to bail, the Court
admitting a person to bail under this section may impose such conditions as it considers;
(a) likely to result in the person's appearance at the time and place required, or
(b) necessary in the interests of justice or for the prevention of crime.
(6) It shall be lawful for the person to be held in military or police protective custody in accordance
with the conditions of his bail.
(7) The Government or the Court may, under this section, at any time, in respect of a person charged of
an offence under this Act, if it considers it necessary, by special or general order, direct special arrangements to
be made as to the place at which the person is to be held in order:
(a) to prevent his escape; or
(b) to ensure his safety or the safety of others.

21E. Remand. --- (1) Where a person is detained for investigation, the Investigating Officer, within
twenty-four hours of the arrest, excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the
Court, shall produce the accused before the Court, and may apply for remand of the accused to police custody,
for which the maximum period allowed may be fifteen days:
Provided that, where an accused cannot within twenty-four hours be produced before the Court, a
temporary order for police custody not exceeding twenty-four hours may be obtained from the nearest
Magistrate for the purpose of producing the accused before the Court within that period.
(2) No extension of the time of the remand of the accused in police custody shall be allowed, unless it
can be shown by the Investigating Officer, to the satisfaction of the Court that further evidence may be
available and the Court is satisfied that no bodily harm has been or will be caused to the accused:
Provided that the total period of such remand shall not exceed thirty days.
(3) The Court shall be deemed to be a Magistrate for purposes of sub-section (1).
 21F. Remissions. --- Notwithstanding anything contained in any law or prison rules for the time being
in force, no remission in any sentence shall be allowed to a person, other than a child, who is convicted and
sentenced for any offence under this Act, unless granted by the Government.
21G. Trial of offences. --- All offences under this Act shall be tried by the Anti-Terrorism Court
established under this Act.

21H. Conditional admissibility of confession. --- Notwithstanding anything contained in the Qanoon-
e-Shahadat, 1984 (President's Order No. 10 of 1984) or any other law for the time being in force, where in any
Court proceedings held under this Act the evidence (which includes circumstantial and other evidence)
produced raises the presumption that there is a reasonable probability that the accused has committed the
offence, any confession made by the accused during investigation without being compelled, before a police
officer not below the rank of a Superintendent of Police, may be admissible in evidence against him, if the
Court so deems fit:
Provided that the Superintendent of Police before recording any such confession, had explained to the
person making it that he is not bound to make a confession and that if he does so it may be used as evidence
against him and that no Superintendent of Police has recorded such confession unless, upon questioning the
person making it, the Superintendent of Police had reason to believe that it was made voluntarily; and that
when he recorded the confession, he made a memorandum at the foot of such record to the following effect:
“I have explained to (..name..), that he is not bound to make a confession and that, if he does so, any
confession he may make may be used as evidence against him and I believe that this confession was
voluntarily made. It was taken in my presence, and was read over to the person making it and admitted by
him to be correct, and it contains a full and true account of the statement made by him.”
(Signed)
Superintendent of Police.”

21-I. Aid and abetment. --- Whoever aids or abets any offence, under this Act shall be punishable with
the maximum term of same imprisonment provided for the offence or the fine provided for such offence or
with both.

21J. Harbouring. --- (1) A person commits an offence if he harbours any person who has committed an
offence under this Act.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under sub-section (1) shall be liable on conviction to punishment as
provided in Sections 216 and 216A of the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860).

21K. Offences triable by way of summary procedure. --- All offences under this Act punishable with
imprisonment for a term of not more than six months with or without fine shall be tried by way of summary
procedure.

21L. Punishment for an Absconder. --- Whoever being accused of an offence under this Act, absconds
and avoids arrest or evades appearance before any inquiry, investigation or Court proceedings or conceals
himself, and obstructs the course of justice, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than six months
and not more than five years or with fine or with both.

21M. Joint Trial. --- (1) While trying any offence under this Act, a Court may also try any other offence
with which an accused may, under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, be charged, at the same trial if the
offence is connected with such other offence.
(2) If, in the course of any trial under this Act of any offence it is found that the accused person has
committed any other offence under this Act or any other law for the time being in force, the Court may convict
an accused for such other offence and pass any sentence authorized by this Act or, as the case may be, such
other law, for the punishment thereof.]
Court Decisions
Trial Court initially being satisfied with the deliberate absence of accused convicted and sentenced him,
but later on being satisfied on the basis of the documentary evidence that his abscondence was not deliberate,
it accepted his plea and set aside his conviction, as a result whereof he was put to face trial of the main case—
Trial Court had dept the said sentence of accused intact which was unwarranted because conviction was not
sustainable then the sentence also could not be allowed to remain intact, otherwise presumption would be that
the plea put forward by the accused for not attending the Court was not found to be acceptable—prosecution
had even failed to establish accusation against the accused in the main case and inference could conveniently
be drawn that he was not involved in the commission of offence, as such recording conviction in his absence in
terms of S. 21 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, was also illegal—Petition for leave to appeal was consequently
converted into appeal and allowed and the impugned judgment was set aside. PLD 2003 SC 262
 22. Manner a place of execution of sentence.—The Government may specify the manner, mode
and place of execution of any sentence passed under this Act, having regard to the deterrent effect which such
execution is likely to have.

23. Power to transfer cases to regular Courts.—Where, after taking cognizance of an offence, an
Anti Terrorism Court is of opinion that the offence is not a scheduled offence, it shall, notwithstanding that it
has no jurisdiction to try such offence, transfer the case for trial of such offence to any court having jurisdiction
under the Code, and the Court to which the case is transferred may proceed with the trial of the offence as if it
had taken cognizance of the offence.

24. Omitted.

25. Appeal.--- (1) An appeal against the final judgment of an Anti Terrorism Court shall lie to an
High Court.
(2) Copies of the judgment of an Anti Terrorism Court shall be supplied to the accused and the
Public prosecutor free of cost on the day the judgment is pronounced and the record of the Trial shall be
transmitted to the High Court within three days of the decision.
(3) An appeal under sub-section (1) may be preferred by a person sentenced by an Anti Terrorism
Court to a High Court within seven days of the passing of the sentence.
(4) The Attorney General “Deputy Attorney General, Standing Council or an Advocate General or
an Advocate of the high court or the supreme court of Pakistan appointed as public Prosecutor Additional
Public Prosecutor or a Special Public Prosecutor may, on being directed by the Federal or a Provincial
government, file an appeal against an order of acquittal or a sentence passed by an Anti Terrorism Court
within fifteen days of such order.
1[“(4A) Any person who is a victim or legal heir of a victim and is aggrieved by the order of acquittal

passed by an anti-terrorism court, may within thirty days, file an appeal in a High court against
such order.
(4B) If an order of acquittal is passed by an Anti-terrorism court in any case instituted upon
complaint and the High court, on an application made to it by the complainant in this behalf,
grants special leave to appeal from the order of acquittal, the complainant may within thirty
days present such an appeal to the High Court.” ]
(5) An appeal under this section shall be heard and decided by an High Court within seven
working days.
(6) Omitted
(7) Omitted
(8) Pending the appeal in the [High Court] shall not release the accused on bail.

Legal Amendments
1. Sub-section 4A and 4B added by the Anti-Terrorism (amendment) Act, 2003.
Court Decisions
 Principles : --True that no limitation should be placed upon the power of High Court in deciding an
acquittal appeal unless it be found expressly stated in the Code but simultaneously, the golden rule of caution
that imbues every statute dealing with adjudication on point of fact, was to be given superseding effect, and
before reaching its conclusion on facts the High Court should and will always give proper weight and
consideration to such matters as---
(1) the views of the trial Judge as to the credibility of the witnesses;
(2) the presumption of innocence in favour of the accused, a presumption certainly not weakened
by the fact that he has been acquitted at his trial;
(3) the right of the accused to the benefit of any doubt; and
(4) the slowness of an Appellate Court-in disturbing a finding of fact arrived at by a Judge who
had the advantage of seeing the witnesses.
The High Court will, inter alia, pay due regard to the opinion formed by the acquitting Judge about
the witnesses who gave evidence before him and the corresponding disadvantage from which the High Court
itself suffers in not having them before it.
The State has under section 417 of the Code of Criminal Procedure the right to appeal from an order of
acquittal both on facts and law. It is, therefore, not permissible to read into section 417 the words of limitation
employed by the High Court. A practice has, however, grown that a Court of appeal will not interfere with an
order of acquittal if the evidence is open to the view formed by the trial Court. In other words the order of
acquittal will not be set aside on grounds of appreciation of evidence alone. This view, however, is not correct.
If the reasons given by the trial Judge or of speculative and artificial nature or the findings recorded by him
are based on no evidence or misinterpretation of evidence or the conclusions drawn by him about the guilt or
innocence of the accused person are perverse or foolish resulting in miscarriage of justice the Court of appeal
will in such a case re-examine the evidence and draw its own conclusions from it.
Guiding 'principles are in the following terms:--
It is not necessary to state and comment upon the facts and circumstances of each of the afore-noted
cases nor, it is necessary to make an attempt to deduce any one single rule from these judgments which would
help to resolve the controversy involved in this case, without proper analysis of the material on record.
However, notwithstanding the diversity of facts and circumstances of each case, amongst others, some
of the important and consistently followed principles can be clearly visualised from the cited and other case--
law on the question of setting aside as acquittal by this Court. They are as follows:
(1) In an appeal against acquittal the Supreme Court would not on principle ordinarily interfere
and instead would give due weight and consideration to the findings of Court acquitting the
accused. This approach is slightly different than that in an appeal against conviction when
leave is granted only for the re-appraisement of evidence which then is undertaken so as to see
that benefit of every reasonable doubt should be extended to the accused. This difference of
approach is mainly conditioned by the fact that the acquittal carries with it the two
well-accepted presumptions: One initial, that, till found guilty, the accused is innocent; and
Two that again after the trial a Court below confirmed the assumption of innocence.
(2) The acquittal will not carry the second presumption and will also thus loose the first one if on
points having conclusive effect on the end result the Court below: disregarded material
evidence; misread such `evidence; received such evidence illegally.
(3) In either case the well-known principles of re-appraisement of evidence will have to be kept in
view when examining the strength of the views expressed by the Court below. They will not be
brushed aside lightly on mere assumptions keeping always in view that a departure from the
normal principle must be necessitated by obligatory observances of some higher principle as
noted above and for no other reason.
(4) The Court would not interfere with acquittal merely because on reappraisal of the evidence it
comes to the conclusion different from that of the Court acquitting the accused provided both
the conclusions are reasonably possible. If however, the conclusion reached by that Court was
such that no reasonable person would conceivably reach the same and was impossible then
this Court would interfere in exceptional cases on overwhelming proof resulting in conclusion
and irresistible conclusion; and that too with a view only to avoid grave miscarriage of justice
and for no other purpose. The important, test visualised in these cases, in this behalf was that
the finding sought to be interfered with, after scrutiny under the foregoing searching light,
should be found wholly as artificial, shocking and ridiculous.
In exceptional circumstances showing overwhelming proof against any of the acquitted accused,
disclosing glaring misreading and, indicating grave miscarriage of justice or showing
perfunctory, wholly artificial or shocking conclusions which no reasonable person would
perceive; the judgment can legitimately be interfered with.
By and large the same principles are applicable to adjudication of a matter by High Court in exercise of
the powers under section 417, Cr.P.C. or section 25(4) read with section 32 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 in
dealing with an acquittal appeal. P L D 2002 Karachi 152
Zulfqar Ali Bhutto v. State PLD 1979 SC 53; State v. Bashir Ahmed PLD 1963 Kar. 242; Ghulam Muhammad v.
Muhammad Sharif PLD 1969 SC 398; Kehar' Singh v. State 1989 PSC 533; Ch. Muhammad Yaqoob c. State 1992
SCMR 1983; State v. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto PLD 1978 Lah. 523; Tribhuvan Nath v. State AIR 1973 SC 450; Asghar
Hayat v. State 1985 PCr.LJ 2638; Chutto v. State PLD 1958 (W.P.) Kar. 18; Khurshid Ahmed ~. Kabool Ahmed
PLD 1964 (W.P.) Kar. 356; Balmokand v. Emperor AIR 1915 Lah. 16; Sikandar v. State PLD 1963 SC 17,
Muhammad Yasin v. State 1973 PCr.LJ 448; Empe;ior v. Manu Chik AIR 1938 Pat. 290; B.D. Cayford v. Masood
Ahmed PLD 1964 Kar. 69; State v. Syed Mustafa Abbas 1986 PCr.LJ 1283; Yar Muhammad v. State 1992 SCMR
96; Niaz v. State PLD 1960 SC (Pak.) 387: Pramatha Nath Talukdar v. Saroj Ranjan AIR 1962 SC 876: Keltar
Singh v. State AIR 1988 SC 1883; Muhammad Hussain v. State PLD 1995 Lah. 229; Abdul Khaliq v. State 1996
SCMR 1553; Muhammad Khan v. Maula B.akhsh 1998 SCMR 570; Muhammad Shafique Akhtar Shah 1997
SCMR 1964; Sheo Swarup v. King, Emperor AIR 1934 PC 227: Anwar v. Crown PLD 1955 FC 185; Ghulam
Muhammad's case PL.D 1969 SC 398; Ghulam Sikandar v. Mamraz Khan PLD 1985 SC 11: State Muhammad
Naseer 1993 SCMR 1822; Muhammad Asghar v. State PLD 1994 SC 301 and Allah Bux v. Ghulam Rasool 1999
SCMR 223 ref.

26. Omitted.

27. Punishment for defective investigation.--- If an Anti Terrorism Court or a High Court comes to
the conclusion during the curse of or at the conclusion of the trail that the investigating officer, or other
concerned officers have failed to carry out the investigation property or diligently or have failed to pursue the
case property and in breach of their duties, it shall be lawful for such court or, as the case may be, a High
Court to punish the delinquent officers with imprisonment which may extend to two years, or with fine or
with both by resort to summary proceedings.

28. Transfer of Cases.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, an High court may, if
it considers it expedient so to do in the interest of justice, or where the convenience or safety of the witnesses
or the safety of the accused so requires transfer any case from one an Anti Terrorism Court to another Anti
Terrorism Court within or outside the area.
(2) An Anti Terrorism Court to which a case is transferred under sub-section (1) shall proceed with
the case from the stage at which it was pending immediately before such transfer and it shall not be bound to
recall and re-hear any witness who has given evidence and may act on the evidence already recorded.
Provided that nothing-herein contained shall affect the powers of the presiding officer of the Anti
Terrorism Court to call any witness as is available under the law.

29. Trial before Anti-Terrorism Court to have precedence.—A Tail under this Act of an offence by
an Anti Terrorism Court, and the appearance of an accused before it, shall have precedence over the trial of
any other case against the accused in any other Court, except the High Court on its original side.

30. Modified application of certain provisions of the code.—(1) Notwithstanding anything

contained in the Code or in any other law, every scheduled offence shall be deemed to be a cognizable offence
within the meaning of clause (f) of section 4 of the Code and the words “cognizable case” as defined in that
clause shall be construed accordingly.
(2) Sections 374 to 379 of the Code shall apply in relation to a case involving a scheduled offence
subject to the modification that the references to a “Court of Sessions” and “High Court”, wherever occurring
therein, shall be construed as reference to an “Anti Terrorism Court” and an High Court.
(3) Omitted
(4) Omitted

31. Finality of judgment.—A judgment or order passed, or sentence awarded, by an Anti

Terrorism Court, subject to he result of an appeal under this Act shall be final and shall not be called in
question in any Court.

32. Overriding effect of Act.—(1) The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding
anything contained in the Code or any other law but, save as expressly provided in this Act, the Provisions of
the Code shall, in so far as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, apply to the proceedings
before an Anti Terrorism Court, and for the purpose of the said provisions of the Code, and anti Terrorism
Court shall be deemed to be a Court of Sessions.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in sub-section
(1), the provision of section 350 of the Code shall, as far as may be, apply to the proceedings before an Anti
Terrorism Court, an for this purpose any reference in those provisions to a Magistrate shall be construed as a
reference to an Anti Terrorism Court.
 33. Delegation.—The Government may, by notification, delegate, subject to such conditions as may
be specified therein, all or any of the powers exercisable by it under this Act.

34. Power to amend the [First, Second and Third Schedule. --- The Government may, by notification,
amend the [First, Second and Third Schedules] so as to add any entry thereto or modify or omit any entry
therein.

35. Power to make rules. --- A High Court may, with approval of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, by
notification in the official Gazette make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

36. Saving.—Nothing contained in this Act shall affect the jurisdiction exercisable by, or the
procedure applicable to, any Court or other authority under any law relating to the naval, Military or Air
Forces or any other armed force of the Government.
(2) For the removal of any doubt, it is hereby declared that, for the purpose of any such law as is
referred to in sub-section (1), an Anti Terrorism Court shall be deemed to be a Court of ordinary criminal
jurisdication.

37. Contempt of Court.—An anti-terrorism court shall have the power to punish with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and with fine any person who.
(a) abuses, interferes with or obstructs the process of the Court in any way or disobeys any order or
direction of the Court;
(b) scandalizes the court otherwise does anything which tends to bring the court or a person
constituting the court into hatred, ridicule or contempt;
(c) does anything which tends to prejudice the determination of a matter pending or most likely to
come up before the Court; or
(d) does anything which, by any other law, constitutes contempt of court.
Explanation.- In This section “Court” means an anti-terrorism Court.

38. Punishment for terrorist act committed before this Act.—Where a person has committed an
offence before the commencement of this Act which if committed after the date on which this Act comes into
force would constitute a terrorist act hereunder he shall be tried under this Act but shall be liable to
punishment as authorised by law at the time the offence was committed.
Court Decisions
Sections 402-A, 402-B & 402-C, P.P.C. were added to the Schedule to Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 on
2-12-1999 as such on 12-10-1999 when the incident, in the present case, took place said sections did not exist [n
the Schedule to the Act, consequently, within the meaning of S.6, Anti-terrorism act, 1997 offences under
Ss.402-A, 402-B & 402-C, P.P.C. were not scheduled offences on the day on which the incident took place but
they became triable by virtue of S38, Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997--Effect---Provisions of S.38, Anti-Terrorism Act,
1997 provide in express terms that a person so tried shall be liable to punishment as authorised by law at the
time the offence was committed---Punishment of the accused, in circumstances, would only be for the offence
of hijacking as provided on the day on which the offence took place---Sentence to the accused therefore, could
be awarded only for hijacking under S.402-B, P.P.C. and punishment for the offence of hijacking as provided
under S.7(ii), Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 could not be awarded.
With regard to sentence awarded for the offence of terrorist act under section 7(ii) of the Act view is
based on the Constitutional provision of Article 12 which provides that no law shall authorize the punishment
of a person for an act or omission that was not punishable by law at the time of act or omission. Sections
402-A, 402-B and 402-C of P.P.C. were added to Schedule of the A.T. Act, 1997 on 2-12-1999 as such on
12-10-1999 when the present incident took place these sections did not exist in the Schedule of Anti-Terrorism
Act. Consequently, within the meaning of clause of section 6 of the Act these offences were not scheduled
offences on the day on which the incident in the present case took place but they became triable by virtue of
section 38 of the Act, which provides in express terms that a person so tried shall be liable to punishment as
authorized by law at the time the offence was committed. In this view of the matter, the punishment would
only be for the offence of hijacking as provided on the day on which the offence took place. In a way the
sentence can be awarded only for hijacking. Punishment for the offence of hijacking awarded by trial Court
under section 7(ii) of the A.T. Act, therefore, was not approved and, as such, set aside. P L D 2002 Karachi 152

39. Indemnity.—No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against any person in
respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

39A. Omitted
 39B. Removal of difficulties. --- If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any provisions of this Act, the
Federal Government may make such order, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as may appear to it
to be necessary for the purposes of removing the difficulty.

39C. Repeal and Savings. (1) The Suppression of Terrorist Activities (Special Courts) Act, 1975 (XV of
1975) is hereby repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Suppression of Terrorist Activities (Special Courts) Act, 1975 (XV
of 1975) and the amendment of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 (XXVII of 1997), by the Anti-Terrorism
(Amendment) Ordinance, 2001: --
(a) every order, decision or judgment passed by any Anti-Terrorism Court constituted under this Act or
Special Court constituted under the Suppression of Terrorist Activities (Special Courts) Act, 1975, or any
Appellate Court before such repeal or amendment shall remain in force and operative and the repeal or
amendment shall not affect the previous operation of the law or anything duly done or suffered or punishment
incurred thereunder;
(b) every case, appeal and legal proceedings whatsoever filed or pending before any Court under the
Suppression of Terrorist Activities (Special Courts) Act, 1975, including the High Court and the Supreme
Court shall continue to be proceeded with in accordance with law before the concerned Court of competent
jurisdiction, including the Court established under this Act, and all orders passed, decisions made and
judgments delivered whether in the past or which may be made delivered hereafter by such concerned Court
whether original, appellate or revisional, shall be deemed to have been validly and competently made.”
(c) all convictions made, punishments or sentences awarded by the Anti-Terrorism Court or Special
Court or an Appellate Court before such repeal or amendment shall be executed as if the said Acts were in
force;
(d) any investigation or inquiry under this Act or the Suppression of Terrorists Activities (Special
Courts) Act, 1975 made or instituted before the commencement of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment)
Ordinance, 2001, shall continue to be made and proceeded with in accordance with law;
(e) all cases pending before the Anti-Terrorism Court or Special Court immediately before the
commencement of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001, if not covered by this Act or clauses (a)
and (b) above, shall stand transferred to the respective Courts of Sessions of the area or such other Courts of
competent jurisdiction where the cases were registered against the accused and such Courts shall proceed with
the cases from the stage at which they were pending, without the necessity of recalling any witnesses, and
(f) the Court of Sessions or, as the case may be, any other Court to which a case has been transferred
from the Anti-Terrorism Court or a Special Court under clause (d) shall try it in accordance with the provisions
of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), and the law applicable to such case.

40. Amendment of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908 (XIV of 1908).—In the Criminal Law
Amendment Act, 1908 (XIV of 1908), the following amendments shall be made, namely:-
(I) In section 15 in clause (2) in sub-clause (a) for the words “violence or intimidation” the words
“terrorism, stirring up sectarianism, violence or intimidation which endanger or threaten public
order” shall be substituted.
(II) For Section 16, the following shall be substituted namely:-
“16. Declaration of an association to be unlawful.—(1) If either the Federal Government or the
provincial Government is of the opinion that an association is an unlawful association it may call upon
the association to show cause with fourteen days why it should not be declared as unlawful association
for the purpose of this Act.
(2) If after hearing the association, the Federal Government or the Provincial Government is of the
opinion that the associations an unlawful association it may declare such association to be an unlawful
association.
(3) If the Federal Government or the Provincial Government is of the opinion that in a interest of
the maintenance of public order or to prevent injury to the people it is just and necessary to take
immediate action, it may, pending passing of order under sub-section (2), by an ad interim order,
declare an association to be unlawful.
(4) An association aggrieved by an order under sub-section (2) may file an appeal before a Board
appointed by the Chief justice of the High Court of the province consisting of a Chairman and two
other persons each of whom is or has been judge of a High Court.
(5) The Board shall decide the appeal within thirty days and may pass such order as it may deem
fit.
(III) In section 17:--
(i) in sub-section (1) for the words “six months” the words “five years” shall be substituted;
and
(ii) In sub-section (2) for the words “three years” the words “seven years” shall be
substituted.
 (IV) In sections 17A, 17D and 17E, for the words “provincial Government” wherever occurring the
words “Federal Government or the provincial Government” shall be substituted.
 THE FIRST SCHEDULE
(List of proscribed Organisations)
[See Section 11B]

THE SECOND SCHEDULE

(List of Organisations under Observation)
[See section 11D(1)(a)]

THE THIRD SCHEDULE

(Scheduled Offences)
[See Section 2(t)]
1. Any act of terrorism within the meaning of this Act including those offences which may be added or
amended in accordance with the provisions of section 34 of this Act.
2. Any other offence punishable under this Act.
3. Any attempt to commit, or any aid or abetment of, or any conspiracy to commit, any of the aforesaid
offences.