ISLAMABAD: The non-implementation of Anti-Terror Act has caused the failure to achieve the desired results, Chief Justice of Pakistan said on Saturday.
Speaking at a meeting, held to review terrorism-related cases, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said the a large number of terror suspects were being acquitted by ant-terrorism courts due to lack of concrete evidence, poor investigation and weak prosecution.
The Chief Justice said the courts are criticized for releasing the suspects. Every accused has the right to get fair trial.
The Chief Justice further said even witnesses are not given protection. In sectarian cases, witnesses hesitate to come to courts to testify against the people accused of terrorism. Nobody could be given sentence without the concrete evidence, he added.
Justice Iftikher urged that steps needed to be taken to protect witnesses, judges and investigators.
Senior Judges of the Supreme Court and high courts, IGPs of all four provinces, home secretaries and prosecutor generals were also present in the meeting.
DND
