ISLAMABAD: On Thursday, the Supreme Court declared that extraordinary measures were necessary to keep the state secure from terrorists and to retain its writ, highlighting the need to deal with lawbreakers and peace disruptors with an iron fist.
Two convicts implicated in the terrorist attack on a police checkpoint in Dera Ghazi Khan that resulted in the deaths of two police officers had their appeals denied. Criminals do not merit mercy, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi wrote in his 14-page ruling.
The judgement stated that extremism was the driving force behind the rise of terrorism in the country during the 1990s. Terrorists shifted their focus to government officials and security forces.
The judgement states that the defendants used explosives, guns, targeted killing, kidnapping for ransom, and terrorism to provide financial support for their terrorist actions.
According to the ruling, drastic steps are needed to protect the country from terrorists and preserve the law in place. It said that the Anti-Terrorism Act was passed because governmental institutions had decided to deal harshly with lawbreakers.
The accused in this case was given a death sentence by the trial court. The Lahore High Court (LHC), however, reduced the sentence from death to life in jail. The defendants have appealed the LHC ruling to the Supreme Court.
