The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy (KPJA), in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), successfully concluded a three-day Consultative Workshop for Developing a Bench-Book for Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judges and Prosecutors on 24 October 2025 at its Peshawar campus.
The initiative aimed to develop a comprehensive and practical Bench-Book to strengthen consistency, procedural clarity, and judicial excellence in terrorism-related trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997).
The workshop was inaugurated on 22 October 2025 and graced by the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sahibzada Asad Ullah, Judge, Peshawar High Court, as the Chief Guest.
In her welcome remarks, Ms. Hina Khan, Acting Director General KPJA, highlighted the Academy’s ongoing efforts to enhance judicial capacity and promote collaboration between judges and prosecutors. She underscored the significance of the Bench-Book initiative in standardizing judicial practices and strengthening the rule of law.
In his address, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sahibzada Asad Ullah commended KPJA and UNODC for their partnership in promoting judicial excellence. He emphasized the need for a harmonized interpretation of anti-terrorism laws and encouraged participants to contribute to the creation of a practical, evidence-based judicial guide.
Day 1 & 2: Technical Sessions and Group Work
Day 1 focused on an overview of the proposed Bench-Book structure and its practical use at different stages of anti-terrorism proceedings — from investigation to trial and judgment writing. Mr. Shahid Shafique facilitated interactive sessions, guiding participants through discussions on the legal framework, powers of ATCs, and procedural standards under the ATA 1997.
Participants were divided into working groups to review and refine Chapters I and II of the draft Bench-Book, identifying clarity gaps and recommending additions.
Day 2 built upon these discussions with sessions dedicated to best practices in investigation, trial management, and judgment writing. Participants reviewed Chapters III and IV, addressing coordination with the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), use of Joint Investigation Teams (JITs), witness protection, mutual legal assistance, and the admissibility of electronic evidence.
Feedback from both days was consolidated to strengthen the Bench-Book’s practical value for judicial officers and prosecutors.
Day 3: Peer Review and Concluding Session
The final day focused on peer review, consolidation of recommendations, and adoption of key outcomes.
Mr. Shahid Shafique presented a summary of all proposed amendments and new topics. A specialized session by Mr. Muhammad Qasim Mandokhel, Advocate Supreme Court, provided in-depth insights on the interpretation of the ATA 1997, application of witness protection laws, and judicial oversight in terrorism trials.
A panel of senior ATC judges discussed the uniform application of anti-terrorism laws, inter-agency coordination, and collection of digital evidence, followed by the adoption of the “KPJA Declaration on Enhancing ATCs Judicial and Prosecution Practices.”
The concluding session was chaired by Ms. Hina Khan, Acting Director General KPJA, and attended by the Dean of Faculty, Directors of the Academy, UNODC representatives, and workshop participants.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Hina Khan commended the participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions, reaffirming KPJA’s commitment to advancing judicial education, promoting integrity, and strengthening access to justice through collaborative research and training.
The ceremony concluded with the conferment of certificates to all participants in recognition of their contributions to the development of the Bench-Book.
The three-day workshop marked a significant milestone in KPJA’s continued efforts to enhance judicial capacity, ensure procedural uniformity, and promote evidence-based decision-making within the criminal justice system of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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