Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 — Section 25: Appeal

25. Appeal. − (1) An appeal against the final judgment of 1[an Anti-terrorism Court] shall lie to 1 [a High Court].

(2)Copies of the judgment of 1[an Anti-terrorism Court] shall be supplied to the accused and the Public Prosecutor free of cost on the day the judgment is pronounced and the record of the trial shall be transmitted to 1[the High Court] within three days of the decision.

(3)An appeal under sub-section (1) may be preferred by a person sentenced by 1[an Anti terrorismCourt] to 1[a High Court] within 2[fifteen] days of the passing of the sentence.

(4)The Attorney General, 3[Deputy Attorney General, Standing Counsel] or an Advocate General 3 [or An Advocate of the High Court or the Supreme Court of Pakistan appointed as Public Prosecutor, Additional Public Prosecutor or a Special Public Prosecutor] may, on being directed by the Federal or a Provincial Government, file an appeal against an order of acquittal or a sentence passed by 1[an Anti terrorism Court] within 2[thirty] days of such order. 4 [(4A) Any person who is a victim or legal heir of a victim and is aggrieved by the order of acquittal passed by an Anti-terrorism Court, may, within thirty days, file an appeal in a High Court against such order. 1Subs. and omitted by Ordinance No. XIII of 1999, ss. 2 and 14. 2Subs. by Act No. XX of 2013, s. 19. 3Ins. by Ordinance No. XIX of 2000, s. 3. 4Ins. by Act No. X of 2004, s. 2. (4B) If an order of acquittal is passed by an Anti-terrorism Court in any case instituted upon complaint and the High Court, on an application made to it by the complainant in this behalf, grant special leave to appeal from the order of acquittal, the complainant may within thirty days present such an appeal to the High Court.]

(5)An appeal under this section shall be heard and decided by 1[a High Court] within seven working days.

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(8)Pending the appeal 1[the High Court] shall not release the accused on bail. 2 [(9) For the purposes of hearing appeals under this section each High Court shall establish a Special Bench of Benches consisting of not less than two Judges.

(10)While hearing an appeal, the Bench shall not grant more than two consecutive adjournments.] 26. 3[* * * * * * *]