GUJRAT: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) will start functioning in Gujrat from Jan 15.

Gujrat District Bar Association Secretary Irfan Ishaq Banth told Dawn that all arrangements had been made for formal operations of the court from Monday. A few months ago, establishment of three other special courts had also been approved when a drug court, banking court and Federal Investigation Agency court from Gujranwala had set up one-day courts here in Gujrat.

The Lahore High Court chief justice had recently approved the establishment of an ATC in the town for hearing of cases registered under anti-terrorism law in Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin districts.

Official sources told Dawn that the ATC had been set up in the Gol Adalat premises in front of the district police office which was earlier objected to by the police and other law enforcement agencies over security concerns.

However upon insistence from the district administration that it could not propose any alternative site for the ATC, the higher authorities decided to set up the court here and police have made the necessary security arrangements.

The sources said CCTV cameras and walkthrough gates had been installed in and around the building besides deployment of cops.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2018