The Government of Pakistan enacted the 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act signed on August 17, 1997 by then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, which created a new court system dedicated to trying cases related to terrorism in a speedy manner.
The ATC convicted Mehram Ali on twenty-three counts of murder and various other charges relating to the bombing.
Mehram Ali filed an appeal before the newly constituted Anti-Terror Appellate Tribunal in Lahore.
The Lahore High Court claimed jurisdiction to hear the appeal, but held that the conviction should still stand.
It was declared that the newly constituted anti-terror court would be subject to the rules and procedures of the existing constitutionally established judicial system, including: It held that no parallel legal system can be constructed that bypasses the operation of the existing regular courts.