Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Jamat Islami on Tuesday opposed extension the of military courts during a consultative meeting of political parties’ parliamentary leaders in the National Assembly.
Law Minister Zahid Hamid briefed the members of the meeting on the extension of military courts. The meeting, which was chaired by NA speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, was attended by the parliamentary leaders of PPP, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), JUI-F, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-Pakistan) and Jamat-e-Islami (JI).
Meanwhile, opposition leader Khursheed Shah while chairing a consultative meeting regarding the reinforcement of military courts said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will oppose the reinstatement of military courts.
The opposition parties held a consultative meeting a day after the federal government initiated consultations to introduce a constitutional amendment reinstating the controversial courts for a period of time all political parties agreed upon.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Shireen Mazari, PPP’s Naveed Qamar, and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Tariqullah were also present in the meeting.
Speaking to journalists about the PPP’s stance on the revival of military courts, Shah said, “This has been our point of view since day one.”
The JI declared that they, too, would oppose the reinstatement of military courts.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the PTI would first listen to the government’s point of view on the subject and then present its own.
Later today, the opposition parties are expected to hold a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
Pakistan had legalised military court trials of terror suspects for a period of two years in January 2015.
An All Parties Conference (APC) gave the green light to the amendments to the Pakistan Army Act to extend its jurisdiction for the speedy trial of cases under specified acts and provide the constitutional cover with a sunset clause of two years from the date of enactment.
At first, the 21st Amendment, as it is popularly known, was met with much debate, but over time, military courts weaved themselves into the fabric of Pakistan’s criminal justice system.
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Parliament of vested interest working against national interest. Military courts were forced upon the parliamentarians because civilian courts failed miserably to deliver out of fear and due to lack of protection on part of the government, the security apparatus was arresting the terrorists at great risk to their lives, civilian courts were setting them free due to lack of evidence. The lawyers and prosecutors bowed to fear and threat from the terrorists. Military courts no matter how undesirable became a necessity in dire of need,, they did their job what the civilians could not do. Those opposing the military court ought to be held accountable if the civilian courts fail to deliver once again, use of power comes with the burden of accountability, people elected the parliamentarians to exercise power on their behalf, but use of this power is not a blank cheque given by the people.
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