SilencedATA Section 7: Punishment for acts of terrorism
Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997
What this section covers
Official heading: Punishment for acts of terrorism
Sets punishments for acts of terrorism defined in section 6. '7-ATA' in an FIR moves a case to an anti-terrorism court.
Maximum penalty: Depends on the act: death or imprisonment for life, and fine, where a death is caused; otherwise terms from 2 years up to imprisonment for life
Part of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997. Pakistan's main counter-terrorism law. It defines terrorism broadly (section 6), sets its punishments (section 7) and sends such cases to special anti-terrorism courts.
A plain-language explanation, not legal advice. The official text always takes precedence.
Official text
The official consolidated text, published by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Pakistan Code:
Recent incidents citing this law
The following verified cases are currently mapped on Silenced under this law.
14 verified incidents whose report cites Section 7. Citations are read automatically from news reports and can be incomplete; inclusion does not verify the allegation.
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Over a dozen sent to prison for Ahmadi man’s murder in Karachi
The IO informed the court that during the initial grilling the 14 arrested suspects disclosed their affiliation with Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan and alleged that the deceased had allegedly committed blasphemy.
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Peshawar ATC awards life term to man for killing accused in blasphemy case
PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) here on Saturday convicted a man for killing an under-trial blasphemy accused inside a courtroom at the Peshawar Judicial Complex over four years ago and sentenced him to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs one million.
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Seminary sealed, 18 booked over ‘blasphemy’
Source reports a criminal case (FIR) linked to online activity: "Police found around 15 to 18 people regularly spreading hate material and blasphemous content in print and at online platforms."
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DIG, two SSPs among 45 booked for Umerkot doctor’s murder
KARACHI/MIRPURKHAS: A day after an inquiry committee concluded that blasphemy suspect Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar was killed in a “staged” encounter, police on Friday registered a murder case against a DIG, two SSPs, as many clerics and 40 others at the Sindhri police station. Officials said that the FIR was registered on the complaint of high court lawyer and victim’s brother-in-law Mohammed Ibrahim Kunbhar against DIG Javed Jiskani, then SSP-Mirpurkhas Asad Chohadhry, the SSP-Umerkot Asif Raza Baloch, CIA-Mirpurkhas, SHO-Sindhri and those who instigated people against the blasphemy…
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Chichawatni man booked for ‘blasphemy’ over Facebook posts
SAHIWAL: Police have registered a case against a Chichawatni man on charge of blasphemy for his posts on Facebook.
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SHC issues notice to defence secretary for not appearing in ‘enforced disappearance’ case
HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad circuit bench of the Sindh High Court has issued a show-cause notice to defence secretary over his failure to appear in the court in a missing person’s case.
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SHC summons defence secretary in ‘enforced disappearance’ case of SU student
HYDERABAD: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, on Thursday summoned the federal defence secretary and Hyderabad DIG to appear in court on Aug 28 in person with a comprehensive report regarding the case of Sarwaich Nohani, a Sindh University student who was allegedly arrested by CIA almost four years ago and has…
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Mobs burn Christian churches, homes in Pakistan after blasphemy allegations
Islamabad, Pakistan – Armed mobs have attacked at least two churches in Punjab province’s Jaranwala town accusing two Christian residents of blasphemy. Also reported by The Guardian and Dawn.
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Killer of suspected blasphemer withdraws bail plea from Peshawar ATC
PESHAWAR: A teenage boy charged with killing a suspected blasphemer inside a courtroom last month withdrew his bail petition from an anti-terrorism court on Monday.
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Killer of blasphemy accused remanded in police custody
PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court on Thursday remanded the suspected killer of a man accused of blasphemy in police custody for three days. The blasphemy accused, Tahir Ahmad Naseem, was shot down inside a courtroom at the Judicial Complex here on Wednesday.
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Man shot dead for ‘blasphemy’ in Pakistan courtroom
A man accused of blasphemy for claiming that he was a prophet has been shot dead in a courtroom in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, police officials say, the latest violence associated with Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws. “The culprit accepts responsibility for killing him, and says that he killed him for having committed blasphemy,” said police official Ahmed. Also reported by The Guardian and Dawn.
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Riots erupt as Mirpurkhas vet booked in blasphemy case
Mirpurkhas police on late Monday registered a blasphemy case against a veterinary doctor in Phuladiyon and took him into custody. The doctor, who is from the Hindu community, was accused of blasphemy after a man alleged that he had provided medicines wrapped in paper that he claimed "had Quranic verses printed on them".
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Mashal Khan lynching: Shooter Imran Ali sentenced to death, 5 given life imprisonment
Mashal Khan, 23, a student of Mass Communications at Mardan's Abdul Wali Khan University, was beaten and shot to death by an angry mob on April 13, 2017, after he was accused of blasphemy.
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Supreme Court acquits blasphemy accused citing lack of evidence
The Supreme Court on Wednesday exonerated a blasphemy accused facing life imprisonment on allegations of desecrating the Holy Quran.