PPP surrenders its ‘principled stand’
The PPP can only claim that it has managed to get four important demands accepted which would partly neutralise some of the controversial aspects of the military courts. The accused will have to be produced before the court within 24 hours, informed about the grounds of arrest within the same period and will enjoy the right to have a lawyer of choice while the provisions of Qanoon-e-Shahadat 1984 will be applicable in the trials by the military courts.
The JI and JUI-F are reportedly still having reservations over the phrase “terrorism in the name of religion” The Speaker has promised to address these in the final draft. But if the phrase is removed, this would make possible the trial of politicians on grounds of corruption or on trumped up charges of supporting the terrorists that the PPP has all along opposed. One cannot rule out the possibility of the PML-N ditching an irksome political opponent in support of a useful ally when the issue reaches the National Assembly on Monday. In case the PML-N wins over the MQM and independents, it can get the required two thirds majority in the Senate to get the amendment through
The war against terrorism is not likely to be won in two years time. Improving the legal system to make it efficient has never been among the PML-N’s priorities. So will the parliamentarians continue giving extension to the military courts till the end of the terrorist menace, taking the position – again – that they are forced to do this due to the sensitivities involved in the country’s war against terrorism?
Ayaz Sadiq has promised to form a National Security Committee comprising NA and Senate leaders to oversee military courts as well as other matters related to curbing terrorism. The PPP hopes the committee would also plan a future line of action at the conclusion of the two year period. This gives one a sense of déjà-vu.
