Promoting Due Process and Fair Trial Methods in Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Courts

CFHR, in collaboration with ABA ROLI and with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), implemented a multifaceted initiative to strengthen legal protections within ATCs. This project aimed to enhance awareness, promote informed discourse, and equip legal professionals and youth with the tools to advocate for due process in counterterrorism proceedings.

Key activities under this initiative included:

Fellowship Program: Selected fellows conducted in-depth research on fair trial rights and the presumption of innocence within the ATC system. Working directly in ATCs, they gathered empirical data and developed insights into procedural gaps.

• Ms. Sevim Saadat focused on fair trial rights and the presumption of innocence, working under Justice Ayesha A. Malik and Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah at the Lahore High Court. As a Fellow, she researched bail rights, analyzed ATC proceedings, and identified systemic gaps. She authored a policy brief on pretrial detention and a risk analysis on child rights and sexual violence victims. She also reviewed human rights and gender-sensitive legislation, including workplace harassment, corporal punishment, and acid attack bills. As a Judicial Law Clerk, she supported legal research, case summaries, and judicial opinions in civil, commercial, and constitutional law.
• Mr. Faizan Raja authored a fellowship paper titled "Investigating the Multiple Factors that Influence the Enactment and Implementation of Anti-Terrorism Legislation in Pakistan and Around the World." His research analyzed global and domestic counterterrorism frameworks, highlighting human rights concerns and offering recommendations to align Pakistan’s anti-terrorism laws with international legal standards.

Panel Discussions at Universal College Lahore (UCL): A series of expert-led discussions were organized to deepen youth engagement on fair trial rights, the rule of law, and due process within Pakistan’s legal landscape.

Moot Court Competitions: Mooting competitions provided law students with a platform to critically examine legal issues surrounding counterterrorism and fair trial standards, fostering advocacy skills and legal reasoning.

Thematic Journal: A dedicated journal was published to document legal analyses, research findings, and case studies on fair trial rights within ATCs. This initiative played a crucial role in advocating for judicial transparency, reinforcing procedural safeguards, and enriching legal discourse on due process in Pakistan’s counterterrorism framework.