(3) A Judge shall hold office for a period of two and ahalf years but may be appointed for such
further term or part of term as the Government appointing the Judge may determine.
(4) A Judge may be removed from his office prior to the completion of the period for which he
has been appointed after consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court.
(5) In case a Judge is on leave, or for any other reason temporarily unable to perform his duties,
the Government making appointment of such Judge may, after consultation with the Chief Justice of
the High Court, authorized the Sessions Judge, having jurisdiction at the principal seat of the Anti
terrorism Court, to conduct proceedings of urgent nature so long as such judge is unable to perform
his duties.
(6) The Antiterrorism Courts existing immediately before the commencement of the Anti
terrorism (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2002, and the judges appointed to such Courts, shall,
subject to the provisions of this Act, as amended continue to function and try offences under this
Act.]
15. Place of sitting. (1) Subject to subsection (2) and (3), 1[an Antiterrorism Court] shall
ordinarily sit at such place or places 2[including Cantonment area or jail premises] as the Government
may, by order, specify in that behalf.
(2) The Government may direct that for the trial of a particular case the Court shall sit at such
place including the place of occurrence of an offence as it may specify.
(3) Except in a case where a place of sitting has been specified under subsection (2) 1[an Anti
terrorism Court] may, if it considers it expedient or desirable so to do either suo moto or on the
application of the public prosecutor sit, for holding the trial of a case at any place including a mosque
other than the ordinary place of its sitting.
16.�� Oath by 1[Antiterrorism Courts]. A 3[Judge] of 1[an Antiterrorism Court] shall, at the
commencement of a proceeding under this Act, make oath, in the case of a Muslim, on the Holy
Quran, to the effect that he shall decide the case honestly, faithfully and considering himself
accountable to Almighty Allah, and in case of a nonMuslim in accordance with 1[the Constitution,
law and his conscience].
17. Powers of 1[Antiterrorism Courts] with respect to other offences. When trying any
scheduled offence, l[an Antiterrorism Court] may also try any offence other than the scheduled
offence with which the accused may, under the Code, be charged at the same trial.
18. Public Prosecutors. 4[(1) The 5* * * Government shall appoint in relation to each Anti
terrorism Court or
1 Subs. by the Antiterrorism (Second Amdt.) Ordinance, 1999 (13 of 1999), ss. 2 and 12.
2 Ins. by the Anitterrorism (Amdt.) Ordinance, 2002 (6 of 2002), s. 4.
3 Subs. and shall be deemed to have always been so subs. by the Antiterrorism (Second Amdt.) Ordinance, 2002 (134 of 2002). s. 4.
4 Subs. by the Ordinance No. 6 of 2002, s. 6.
5 Omitted by Act VI of 2014, s. 4.
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