ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed serious concerns over the decision to establish military courts for trying militants involved in terrorist activities.
On Wednesday, political parties had reached consensus to set up special trial courts headed by military officers for a period of two years for swift disposal of terrorism cases.
“The commission is dismayed that all political parties supported this unfortunate decision, although some had earlier expressed reservations. HRCP has a number of concerns over this move,” the HRCP Chairperson Zohra Yusuf said in a statement on Friday.
“Firstly, the decision undermines the judiciary and shows lack of confidence in an independent and strong judicial system in the country,” Yusuf said.
The HRCP chairperson feared that political dissidents particularly in Balochistan and Sindh could become targets of military courts.
“HRCP believes that there is a need to reform and strengthen the system of investigation and prosecution,” she said.
“The hasty decision is all the more questionable as the Supreme Court itself is attempting to expedite cases of terrorism,” she added.
Earlier, the information minister Pervaiz Rasheed said while speaking on a television channel that the proposed military courts will be established under the constitution after due legislation.
The information minister said that the special courts would ensure protection of rights of the masses, adding that these courts will deal with only specific crimes in a stipulated time.
