Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Wednesday said the military courts would start functioning within days.
In an interview to a TV channel, the minister said terrorism cases were lingering due to some legal complications but now speedy justice would be provided.
The minister said military courts would remain intact for a period of two years. He said the government was standing by the Pakistan Army against terrorism, adding that whenever army had taken a step while remaining within the constitution and system, it had emerged victorious with the nation’s support.
Telephonic and forensic record along with physical witnesses would be treated as evidences in the cases, he mentioned.
Rashid said action would not only be taken against banned organisations but also against those helping and assisting them through various means.
About the reservations of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam–Fazl (JUI-F) over the 21st constitutional amendment, the minister said that JUI-F did not vote against the bill which showed its “half agreement” to the amendment.
More than two-third majority of the Parliament voted in favor of the legislation and their intentions should not be doubted, the minister underlined, adding that JUI-F was a part of the Parliament and democratic norms demanded acceptance of the amendment from them.
“Why is JUI-F opposing the decision to bring terrorists behind bars when they themselves had issued decrees against them?” the senator questioned.
“We have to deal with those involved in cutting throats, and for that, everyone should get united. We should adopt the same attitude against terrorism adopted by all the civilised nations. Islam is a religion of peace, love and humanity but these terrorists are attacking religious places including mosques, imam bargahs, churches and mandirs in the name of religion.”
Responding to a question, he said cases against liberation groups involved in attacks on armed forces were already being run according to Army Act. The minister said the authority of judicial scrutiny was with the Supreme Court.
