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ACT II OF 2005 ACT II OF 2005 ANTI‑TERRORISM (SECOND AMENDMENT) ACT, 2004 An Act further to amend the Anti‑Terrorism Act, 1997 [Gazette of Pakistan, Extraordinary, Part II, 11th January, 2005] WHEREAS it is expedient further to amend the Anti‑terrorism Act, 1997 (XXVII of 1997), for the purposes hereinafter appearing; It is hereby enacted as follows:‑‑ 9. Amendment of section 19; Act XXVII of 1997.‑‑‑In the said Act, in section 19,‑‑‑ . (i) for subsection (8), the following shall be substituted, namely: "(8) An Anti‑Terrorism Court shall not give more than two consecutive adjournments during the trial of the case. If the defence counsel does not appear after two consecutive adjournments, the Court may appoint a State Counsel with at least seven years standing in criminal matters for the defence of the accused from the panel of advocates maintained by the Court for the purpose in consultation with the Government and shall proceed with the trial of the case." (ii) after subsection (8) substituted. as 'aforesaid, the following new subsection shall be inserted, namely:‑‑ "(8a) Non‑compliance with the provisions of subsection (8) may render the presiding officer of the Court liable to disciplinary action by the concerned High Court. (8b) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 7 of the Explosive Substances Act; 1908 (VI of 1908), or any. other law for the time being in force, if the consent of sanction of the appropriate authority, where required, is not received within thirty days of the submission of challan in the Court, the same shall be deemed to have been given or accorded and the Court shall proceed with the trial of the case.".