No official record of banned terrorist outfits angered Supreme Court

The Supreme Court suggested to the government to make public in people’s interest the list of proscribed terrorist outfits and the translated version of anti-terrorism laws. Government has no confirmed record or list of all banned terrorist groups.

“Realizing the need of the hour that the biggest problem afflicting the country is terrorism, the government should at least make public the list of organisations involved in terrorism and the translated version of anti-terrorism laws in Urdu and provincial languages,” observed Justice Qazi Faez Isa, one of the members of a three-judge bench.

The bench headed by Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja had taken notice of an incorrect version of Section 23 of the Contract Act 1872 and misprinting of certain sections of the Patent Ordinance 2000 in different law journals and manuals.

The court expressed surprise that some banned outfits were openly collecting donations in the name of poor children of Tharparkar with their names inscribed in banners, but the people who were giving charities had no idea that they were actually aiding banned organisations.

Justice Khawaja said the government should also translate the list of banned organisations into Urdu and languages prevailing in the provinces and place them on websites. Their names should also be sent to other countries to dispel an impression that Pakistan supports terrorist organisations.

The need to publish the list came when during the proceedings the court staff failed to procure the official list of proscribed organisations from websites of Nacta (National Counter-Terrorism Authority) and the ministries of interior and law.

The court said it had been impressing upon the federal and provincial governments and their law officers that it had become imperative to ensure that laws were easily available to citizens.

The court adjourned the hearing to Jan 28 when it would issue an order suggesting timeline for provincial governments to meet the targets after going through their reports.