The much-debated and delayed 28th constitutional amendment bill and extension in military courts tenure for another two years will be introduced in the National Assembly on Monday (today) by Law Minister Zahid Hamid.
Political consensus to this effect was reached after intensive consultations among the political parties after the expiry of military courts’ tenure in January this year.
The main opposition party, PPP, which was opposing the bills, has moved its amendments for inclusion as agreed by the PML-N government. This followed hectic negotiations between the ruling PML-N and PPP legal stalwarts during which the government agreed to accommodate the amendments moved by the PPP, JI and JUI-F. The PPP agreed to withdraw five amendments.
According to the understanding, a national security committee comprising NA, Senate leaders will be formed to oversee military courts.
The ruling PML-N and PPP last Thursday reached an agreement to given extension to military courts for another two-year period to help clamp down on terrorists, their facilitators, abettors and financiers.
With PPP’s agreement, the bill is now likely to be passed unanimously. It is pertinent to mention here that other opposition parties, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had already agreed to the draft bill with some changes they had proposed.
The bill is expected to be approved, hopefully with consensus, on Monday in the National Assembly, after which it will be brought before the Senate on Tuesday.
