Revival of military courts
Meeting discussed matters relating to military courts
ISLAMABAD
A meeting of parliamentary parties presided over by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq concluded without reaching any agreement on the issue of extension in military courts‘ tenure.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Zhaid Hamid and Akram Durrani, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Naveed Qamar and Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour.
The meeting has been adjourned till January 17.
Earlier today, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders have opposed extension of military courts in a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at opposition leader’s chamber in Parliament.
PTI delegation consisting of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Shireen Mazari, Syed Naveed Qamar and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Sahibzada Tariq Ullah met Khurshid Shah.
In an informal media talk, Naveed Qamar said that PPP was compelled to give vote in the favour of military courts but the party is now opposing its extension.
He said government has failed to implement National Action Plan (NAP).
Khurshid Shah said we had countered the decision of establishing military courts at every step.
Meanwhile, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that he wants to hear government’s stance before giving his views. He said that a joint stance will be taken after consultation with all the other opposition parties.
On January 1, JI Amir Siraj ul Haq had also raised hand against the extension. He said we should strengthen the civilian courts instead of giving out extensions to the military courts.
Opposition seeks report on military courts performance
ISLAMABAD: The opposition parties in the National Assembly have sought briefing from the government over the performance of military courts during the past two years.
The government has invited the political parties for consultation on the revival of military courts.
On Monday, the federal government decided to start consultations with parliamentary groups in the national legislatures to re-establish the military courts in different parts of the country to carry out trials of hardcore terrorists.
The meeting, attended by top civilian and military brass, emphasised that military courts have played an extremely important role at a very crucial juncture of action against extremism and terrorism and translated the actions under the Operation Zarb-e-Azb to meaningful and tangible national gains.
The Speaker National Assembly chaired the consultative meeting with the parties, during which the government was asked to brief the Opposition on the military courts, National Action Plan (NAP) and other issues related to war on terror.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the PML-N had promised to introduce improvements in judicial system as it has failed to provide justice. There’s has been no step taken in this regard, he added.
The Leader of Opposition in NA, Khursheed Shah said we have consensus on military courts issue and that the government must brief us on the status of NAP and Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
The NA Speaker later informed that another meeting had been scheduled on January 17 to mull over the matter.
