ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Irfan Siddiqui, has said that the Supreme Court’s verdict which upheld the establishment of military courts is a beacon of light and will help strengthen the war against terrorism.
Earlier in the day, a 17-member bench of the Supreme Court in its decision rejected petitions filed against the 18th and 21st constitutional amendments, and ordered to keep the military courts intact.
“Judiciary’s prestige has been enhanced as a result of this verdict,” Irfan Siddiqui said according to Radio Pakistan.
Irfan Siddiqui said that the decision will help eliminate the criminals who were awarded sentences.
“The verdict was very important as it will discourage terrorists,” the said adding that delaying tactics cannot be applied in military courts.
The military courts were set up for a period of two years as part of the national action plan against terrorism adopted on December 24 last year in the wake of the terror attack on the army public school in Peshawar.
Later, the 21st constitutional amendment was also passed by the Parliament in January to give legal cover to military courts.
The premier’s special assistant said that the government had taken the decision of establishment of military courts by taking all the parliamentary parties into confidence.
Irfan Siddiqui said that with the endorsement of the 18th and 21st constitutional amendments by the Supreme Court, the parliament will be strengthened.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Law Ashtar Ausaf Ali also termed the Supreme Court’s verdict a victory of the nation.
Talking to media persons in Islamabad, he said that the establishment of military courts was an important decision after launching of the military operation Zarb-e-Azb.
The special assistant said that the verdict is not in contradiction of the human rights. He said that human rights organisation should keep in mind the activities of the terrorists.
