KARACHI: The Sindh government on Tuesday removed the judge of an antiterrorism court after Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M. Shaikh asked the home department to denotify the judge from her post.

The chief justice recommended the removal of retired district and sessions judge Nuzhat Ara Alvi, who has been serving as the presiding officer of the ATC-II, Karachi since August 2021.

In a letter, issued by SHC registrar Abdul Razzaq, the high court directed the home secretary to take necessary steps to de-notify Ms Alvi at the earliest.

Sindh govt denotifies Nuzhat Ara Alvi as ATC-II judge on ‘recommendation’ of SHC chief justice

“I am directed to refer to Notification No. Reg(HD)/1-541/2021 dated 10.8.2021 and to inform you that the Hon’ble Chief Justice has been pleased to recommend for removal of Miss. Nuzhat Ara Alvi, retired District & Sessions Judge from the post of presiding officer, Anti-terrorism Court-II, Karachi, as laid down under Section 14(4) of Anti-Terrorism Act [ATA], 1997,” reads the registrar’s letter.

According to Section 14(4) of ATA, a judge may be removed from his office prior to the completion of the period for which he / she has been appointed after consultation with the chief justice of the high court.

Ms Alvi was appointed as the presiding officer of ATC-II on Aug 10, 2021 for a period of two and half years.

In compliance with the chief justice’s order, Sindh Home Secretary Dr Saeed Ahmed Mangejo issued a notification to denotify Ms Alvi from the post of presiding officer of the ATC-II with immediate effect.

A few days ago, the same ATC-II had issued a non-bailable warrant for the arrest of PPP MNA Qadir Petal after he failed to appear in court as an accused in a case pertaining to allegedly facilitating medical treatment of suspected gangsters and criminals.

Last month, the same court had also issued a non-bailable warrant against Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leader and former Karachi mayor Wasim Akhtar, who is also one of the accused along with Qadir Patel, for the same reason and in the same case.

In December, the ATC-II had also cancelled the bail of MQM leader Gulfaraz Khattak, who is facing trial in another case, over his alleged “inappropriate behaviour” with the judge.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2022