‘National interest’ reigns supreme

Parliamentary parties’ moot endorses amendments in constitution, Army Act for constitutional cover to special military courts

PM says there’s no room for further debate in parliament on NAP, establishment of military courts

Army chief says special courts not desired by Pakistan Army but were ‘need of extraordinary times’

The country’s political leadership has agreed to the formation of the controversial military courts to expedite terrorism-related cases. A draft of the amendment bill in this regard was finalised on Friday at the All-Parties’ Conference (APC) and is expected to be tabled in the National Assembly on Saturday (today).

According to a press statement following the five-hour-long meeting on the proposed National Acton Plan (NAP) to counter terrorism in the country, the APC has endorsed to bring amendments in the constitution and the Army Act. The establishment of special courts will be provided constitutional cover, it said.

Sources said that the government presented two drafts to the conference for amendments in the constitution and Army Act. The attorney general of Pakistan briefed the participants about the proposed amendments.

“The political and military leadership of the country agreed on amending Protection of Pakistan Act, Army Act, Navy Act, and Air Force Act in order to set special military courts in motion,” stated a declaration issued at the end of the national security meeting.

Following the constitutional amendments, senior military officers will start hearing terror-related cases in the special courts.

The amendments will be added in the constitution’s first schedule which includes laws immune to any challenges under Article 8(3). The draft also states that all cases of terrorism will be referred to the special courts by the government.

“The entire nation stands by the armed forces in the fight against terrorism,” the statement adds.

NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has summoned a session of the Lower House of Parliament on Saturday, despite it being a holiday.

ZARDARI’S KEY ROLE TO EVOLVE ‘HISTORIC’ CONSENSUS:

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said “historic” decisions were taken during the meeting.

“This day would be remembered in the country’s history,” he said, adding that murderers of innocent women and children cannot be tried under conventional courts of law.

The minister said that constitution and Army Act would be amended to set up military courts, adding that the constitutional amendment bill would also be tabled in the Senate on Tuesday.

Rashid praised Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari for playing a “leading role” in reaching consensus over the proposed NAP.

Speaking to the media after conclusion of the APC, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that despite the government’s “non-serious attitude” towards NAP, the PTI leadership played its role to evolve national consensus against terrorism.

MILITARY COURTS IMPERATIVE:

As the political leadership of the country expressed reservations over formation of military courts, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif told the participants of the meeting that special courts were not desired by the Pakistan Army but they were needed due to extraordinary times.

“Today’s session will determine the destiny of our nation,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Asim Bajwa said in a tweet, quoting the army chief.

“Consensus reached during the first APC must endure, and we need to make quantum decisions,” he further tweeted.

According to Gen Bajwa, Gen Raheel Sharif said that Pakistan has reached a critical stage in its campaign against terrorism. “We will win decisively.”

Terming the war against terrorism a “national war”, General Sharif said it would be won “at any cost”.

The support extended by the political leadership of the country is the army’s strength, the army chief reportedly said.

PM WILL NOT HEAR ANY MORE DEBATE ON NAP:

Earlier, chairing the conference at the Prime Minister’s House, Prime Minister Sharif said that there had been adequate debate on NAP for 15 days.

“There is no room for further debate in parliament,” he said, adding that they would have to give final shape to the NAP today (Saturday) and then table the bill in the NA.

Earlier in the day, the opposition and treasury benches had demanded the government and military leaderships to review their policies to counter terrorism during the NA’s session.

Commenting on the debate over the deadly Taliban attack on Army Public School in Peshawar on December 16, the lawmakers had said that there was an urgent need to focus on terrorism while the government should take steps to review the existing laws in this regard.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Umer Ayub Khan said that the government should take steps to bring reforms in the curriculum to change the narratives regarding the terrorism.

However, during the APC, the PM urged the political leadership to finalise the draft of the constitutional amendment for setting up special courts to try terrorists.

The premier said the draft bill has been prepared after thorough consultations with all stakeholders and expressed hope that all participants of the APC would endorse it.

Regarding the special courts, the premier said these courts will be established for a specific period of two years and expressed confidence that they will yield desired results within the stipulated time period.

“The nation now wants to see the counter-terrorism NAP in action so that the scourge of terrorism could be eliminated from the country once and for all,” said the PM, adding that he wanted to see a peaceful Pakistan.

“It is a matter of satisfaction that the political leadership of all parties is displaying maturity and taking key decisions,” Sharif added.

Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also briefed the meeting, which was attended amongst others by PPP Co-Chairman Zardari, NA Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah, Senate Opposition Leader Aitzaz Ahsan, Senator Farooq H Naek, Senator Farogh Naseem, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman, Muzaffar Hussain Shah of PML-Functional, Mehmood Khan Achakzai of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq, Awami National Party’s Afrasiab Khattak and Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, PML-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM’s) Farooq Sattar, Hasil Khan Bizenjo of National Party, Aftab Sherpao of Qaumi Watan Party, Abbas Khan Afridi of FATA, Senator Kalsoom Parveen of BNP, Senate leader Raja Zafarul Haq, Barrister Zafarullah, Army chief General Raheel Sharif, and director generals of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and ISPR.

The chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, KP and Balochistan were also present.

Addressing the APC, PPP Co-Chairman Zardari said his party “fully supports” the government in the fight against terrorism which is a “national mission”.

PML-Q head Shujaat Hussain urged the participants to think about the mothers who were deprived of their children in the Peshawar attack “without indulging into legal and constitutional hitches”.

MQM leader Farooq Sattar said his party “fully supports” the idea of establishing military courts in the country.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said, “Mr Prime Minister! We fully support you in this mission.”

The participants of the meeting also offered fateha for the armed forces personnel martyred by the Indian Border Security Force. The meeting concluded with JUI-F chief Fazl praying for the success of NAP.