KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Saturday said that terrorism is a grave challenge facing the nation, and Pakistan is confronted by both internal and external terrorism.

Justice Jamali also added that judges are able to perform their duty of providing justice to the masses more freely in a terror-free environment.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone of 10 new anti-terrorism courts (ATCs), Jamali said that Pakistan, since 9/11, has been a victim of internal and external terrorism.

"In these extraordinary times, we need to take extraordinary measures to overcome this menace," said the CJP.

Jamali was of the view that terrorist attacks in Karachi, in the past, have claimed the lives of a number of judges, lawyers and civilians.

"It is the duty of judges to provide the people with justice and the establishment of these anti-terrorism courts is a part of the country's grand anti-terrorism strategy," said Jamali.

The CJP also lauded Sindh government's initiative in increasing the number of ATCs in the province, and advised other provinces to follow suit.

Related: Overburdened Sindh ATCs unable to decide 3,300 cases in time

Sworn in as chief justice of Pakistan on September 10, Jamali was among the judges who refused to take fresh oath under Gen Pervez Musharraf’s Provisional Constitution Order in 2007.

He was reappointed as a judge and chief justice of the Sindh High Court on Aug 27, 2008 and elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court in August 2009.

CJP Jamali became the first serving chief justice to address Senate in the history of Pakistan on November 3.

Jamali addressed the senators on November 3, on the invitation of Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani.The Upper House of parliament transformed itself into a committee for CJP's address on judicial reforms.

Related: Chief justice reminds Senators of constitutional duties in first ever speech