KARACHI: Justice Amir Hani Muslim of the Supreme Court, who is also the monitoring judge of the antiterrorism courts in Sindh, on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction over the lethargic attitude of the provincial authorities in the provision of infrastructural facilities for the ATCs across the province.

Sources told Dawn that he directed the provincial authorities to expedite the renovation and maintenance of the ATCs that lacked essentialinfrastructural facilities within two to three months.

They said that the apex court`s judge gave the direction while presiding over a meeting to review the performance of theATCs in the province.

The meeting was also attended by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah of the Sindh High Court, who is also the monitoring judge for the ATCs in the province, SHC registrar, home secretary and senior police officials.

The SC judge also showed his concern over the slow pace of construction works on a building inside the Karachi central prison being raised to house 10 ATCs of the city.

He was irked when he learnt that there was nil report on the progress of the construction works and ordered the immediate replacement of the project director who belonged to the home department.

The judge assigned the task to the project director of the works and services department, who is also theofficer in charge of work and maintenance of the ATCs presently established in a Karachi Metropolitan Corporation building in Clifton.

The provincial authorities had earlier in June given an undertaking to shift all 10 ATCs in a building on the premises of the penitentiary by July 2016.

Justice Hani also directed the city police chief to ensure the presence of investigation officers and witnesses for prosecution in the ATCs during trial.

They said that the ATC judges were also directed to expedite the disposal of the cases pending before them.

Justice Hani further directed the additional home secretary and other officials to make elaborate efforts for the implementa-tion of the witness protection programme.

They were also directed to ensure the production of accused persons and witnesses along with case properties in the ATCs for timely disposal of the cases.

Earlier at around 11am, Justice Hani visited the ATCs in Clifton and met the accused persons to hear their complaints.

He directed the managing director of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to make immediate measures for smooth supply of water to the building housing ATCs after the undertrial prisoners complained to him that drinking water was not available in the courts.

Besides, the judge also directed the authorities to arrange water coolers for the UTPs in the ATCs.