Latest news with #ATA
Express Tribune
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Notices in military courts convictions issued
Fateh Khan, Fazal Ghaffar and Tajir Gul had been convicted of carrying our terror attacks in the country by military courts. CREATIVE: AAMIR KHAN A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Khurshid Iqbal, has issued notices to the relevant authorities in response to appeals filed by individuals convicted by military courts in connection with the May 9 riots. The appellants hail from Bannu, Chakdara, and Balambat in Lower Dir, and their legal counsel has challenged the legality and transparency of their convictions. The appeals, filed against the sentences handed down by military courts under the Field General Court Martial (FGCM), argue that the convicts were denied a fair trial and not provided with verdict copies or related legal documents. During the hearing, the appellants were represented by Barrister Amirullah Chamkani, who told the court that the convictions and subsequent prison terms – ranging from two to 10 years – were based on allegedly unlawful trials. According to Chamkani, his clients include Rahimullah, Izzat Gul, Naik Muhammad, Khalid Nawaz, Ikramullah, Ameenullah, Saqlain Haider, Khizar Hayat, and Afaq from Bannu, who were sentenced to 10 years each. Sohrab Khan and Asadullah Durrani from Balambat received two-year terms, while Rais Ahmad and another individual named Ikramullah from Chakdara were sentenced to four years. All were charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) for allegedly protesting against the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and damaging state properties, including security installations and police stations. The lawyer noted that although similar charges were faced by other protestors, many of them were tried in anti-terrorism courts and were acquitted due to lack of evidence. In contrast, the current appellants were handed over to military courts without any explanation, raising serious concerns about selective prosecution and lack of due process. He emphasized that under Pakistan's Constitution, specifically Article 10-A, every citizen is entitled to a fair trial and access to necessary legal documentation, including a written copy of the verdict. However, the appellants were neither given formal charges nor informed of the exact nature of their alleged offenses. Chamkani argued that the appellants only became aware of their sentences after the statutory period for appeal had lapsed, effectively denying them their legal right to challenge the convictions in a timely manner. Moreover, he pointed out that none of the appellants were directly named in the original FIRs; their names were added at a later stage without any disclosed basis. Despite several efforts to obtain clarity from authorities and request documentation, their concerns have been met with silence, further undermining the legitimacy of the process. Citing a recent Supreme Court observation, the counsel stressed that while military trials of civilians were upheld, the apex court maintained that such convicts must have the right to appeal. Since no appeal forum currently exists for military court convictions, he asserted that the high court has jurisdiction to hear the matter. Concluding his argument, Chamkani requested the court to declare the military court convictions null and void and to direct that the cases be tried afresh in accordance with civil laws and constitutional guarantees. After hearing the preliminary arguments, the PHC issued notices to the Secretary of Defence, the Field General Court Martial, the federal government.
Edmonton Journal
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Demetrios Nicolaides: Alberta investing in education to meet booming enrolment
Alberta's government and the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) share the same goal: providing a world-class education to Alberta's next generation. It's a goal I am proud to work on alongside the ATA. Article content Yet in a recent op-ed, ATA president Jason Schilling says he believes Alberta's government is 'playing politics with education rather than focusing on what matters.' I strongly disagree with that characterization, as I believe our investments into Alberta's education system present a much different reality. Article content Article content Article content Many of the challenges our education system is facing today stem directly from the dramatic increase of people who moved to Alberta in recent years. In 2020-21, Alberta had roughly 735,000 students, and some school boards were even looking at closing schools due to lack of enrolment. As of today, there are nearly 826,000 students and counting. Article content Article content Our solutions: $8.6 billion to build and renovate more than 130 schools, creating 200,000 more student spaces. Thirty-three of those school construction projects have been sped up through our new innovative funding model. This is on top of the millions we have invested to build prefabricated classrooms to address the need for more classroom space now. I find it hard to characterize these investments as a 'failure to fund public education for growth,' as Mr. Schilling put it. I have heard loud and clear that something needs to be done to ensure the growing needs of students are met in classrooms, such as tailored programing for students with increased learning needs or supports for students that are learning English as a second language. My response: an historic $9.9 billion for Alberta's education system. This generational investment includes $1.6 billion for schools to address increasingly complex classrooms and will help ensure each student is supported as they engage with Alberta's world-class education system. Article content Article content Alberta's government is making significant investments in education to support student success. We're expanding school spaces and addressing the complex learning needs of students. To reduce distractions, we've banned cellphones in classrooms. We're also responding to the concerns of parents and protecting young students by ensuring they aren't exposed to inappropriate sexual content in school libraries. Article content Our updated funding model ensures school boards receive the resources they need, and we're refocusing the curriculum on essential skills like reading, writing, and financial literacy. But rather than just talk about it — let's have the results speak for themselves Article content In a recent Programme for International Student Assessment report, Alberta's students excelled in all areas of testing in math, reading, science and creative thinking. In Canada, Alberta ranked first in reading and science, and second in math. Internationally, Alberta ranked second in reading and science, and seventh in math. In financial literacy, Alberta students received the highest score in Canada and internationally. In creative thinking, Alberta students received the highest score in Canada. Internationally, Canada was only outperformed by Singapore.
Express Tribune
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
May 9: IHC overturns sentence of 4 PTI workers
Listen to article The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday acquitted four Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers who had been convicted in connection with the May 9 riots. The convicts had challenged their sentences in the IHC. Earlier, the ATC, headed by Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, had sentenced Sohail Khan, Mohammad Akram, Shahzeb and Mira Khan to 10 years in prison on May 30 for their alleged involvement in attacking a police station in Islamabad's Ramna area. The convicts had been charged under Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) Sections 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing official duty), 188 (disobeying order of a public servant), 324 (attempted murder), 353 (assault on public servants), 436 (arson) and 440 (mischief); Section 144 of CrPC; and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997. They were sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment under Section 7 ATA, five years under Section 324 of PPC, four under Section 436, two each under sections 353 and 148. In total, 11 PTI members, including MNA Abdul Latif, were sentenced, but only four were arrested while the remaining suspects are still at large. May 9, 2023, refers to the day when former prime minister and PTI founding chairman Imran Khan was taken into custody by paramilitary Rangers from the Islamabad High Court premises on charges of corruption. The PTI founder's arrest sparked countrywide protests, during which demonstrators allegedly belonging to the former ruling party vandalized state-owned buildings and military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander's House, commonly known as Jinnah House. Following the protests, several PTI leaders and workers were arrested on various charges, including setting government infrastructure on fire. On Thursday, a divisional bench of IHC comprising Justice Azam Khan and Justice Khadim Hussain Somroo overturned the verdict of ATC, declaring the sentences void after hearing arguments from both sides. PTI lawyers, including Babar Awan, Sardar Masroof and Amna Ali, represented the appellants in the IHC. Awan argued that out of nine prosecution witnesses, only one — ASI Muhammad Sharif — identified the accused. He said no injuries were reported despite allegations of gunfire. "Punish for crimes proven, but do not turn the system into a joke," he told the court. Justice Somroo questioned the prosecution about the evidence to which the prosecutor responded that evidence existed but requested additional time to present it. The court, however, rejected this plea, observing that all arguments had already been heard. The bench noted that no medico-legal certificates (MLCs) or injured persons were presented and questioned the basis for convictions without proving the accused were present at the crime scene. The IHC observed that none of the witnesses had stated in their testimonies that the accused were present at the site. The bench further questioned whether the court was now expected to convict solely on the basis of an identification parade.
Business Recorder
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Ramna police station attack case: IHC acquits four PTI workers
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) accepting appeals of four Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters, against their sentence awarded in Ramna police station attack, arson and siege case of May 9, ordered to release them. A division bench of Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro and Justice Azam Khan on Thursday heard the appeals against 10-year imprisonment sentence of convict Sohail Khan and others. During the hearing, lawyers Babar Awan, Sardar Masroof, Advocate Amina Ali and others appeared on behalf of the petitioners. PTI founder Imran Khan's sister, Aleema Khan, was also present in court. She met with the workers and other party supporters, expressing strong solidarity with those accused in the May 9 incidents. After hearing the arguments, the IHC bench acquitted the four PTI workers previously convicted in the May 9 Ramna police station attack case. The bench ordered to release them after the prosecution was unable to prove their presence at the scene of the protest based on the witnesses' accounts. The convicts had been charged under Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) Sections 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing official duty), 188 (disobeying order of a public servant), 324 (attempted murder), 353 (assault on public servants), 436 (arson) and 440 (mischief); Section 144 of CrPC; and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997. They were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment under Section 7 ATA, five years under Section 324 of PPC, four under Section 436, two each under Sections 353 and 148. Additionally, the convicts were sentenced to four years in prison and fined Rs40,000 for burning a motorcycle under Section 426 (punishment for mischief); and a separate sentence of four years in prison and a fine of Rs40,000 under Section 440 (mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt) for vandalising a police station. A sentence of three-month imprisonment was imposed for interfering in the work of the police under Section 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), one month for violating Section 144 (joining unlawful assembly armed with a deadly weapon), and two years for committing a crime in a group under Section 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of an offence committed in prosecution of common object). At the onset of the proceedings, Babar Awan argued that out of nine prosecution witnesses, only one witness Assistant Sub-Inspector Muhammad Sharif was able to identify the accused. He contended that while it was alleged that the protesters had resorted to firing, no one was injured. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
GMA Network
03-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Protesters reiterate call to abolish Anti-Terror Law
Despite the rainy weather, human rights activists on Thursday held a protest before the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reiterate their call to abolish the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (TFPSA). In a statement, the group Karapatan said that the ATA and TFPSA pose threats to freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the right to due process. 'They legitimize political persecution under the guise of protecting national security,' Karapatan said. 'In targeting activists, community organizers, journalists, and other dissenting voices using broad and vague definitions of terrorism, these laws are nothing but instruments to violate the rights, harass and red-tag those who speak out against injustice,' added the group. According to Karapatan, at least 227 individuals have been charged with violating the ATA and the TFPSA. 'We demand a stop to the persecution, an end to the weaponization of the ATA and the TFPSA, and the immediate repeal of these draconian laws,' Karapatan said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
