ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Tuesday opposed the extension of Military Courts, a day after Civil and Military leadership lauded Courts’ role in anti-terror efforts and also endorsed their extension.
In this regard, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq Chaired a meeting of Parliamentary Parties in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss matters relating to Military Courts.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Zahid Hamid and Akram Durrani, PPP’s Leader of the Opposition in the Lower House Syed Khursheed Shah and Naveed Qamar, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Shireen Mazari, Awami National Party’s (ANP) Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and JI’s Tariqullah.
However, Parliamentary Parties failed to reach a consensus on extension of Military Courts and it was decided that next meeting would be held on January 17.
“I had already said that there was no need of Military Courts,” Khursheed Shah said while talking to media.
“Opposition devised its strategy. We will oppose extension in Military Courts,” he added.
The JI also announced its opposition to proposed extension to Military Courts.
Talking to media, the PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the federal government had failed to introduce reforms in criminal justice system in two years.
Qureshi said that he would discuss issue of government amendment bill regarding Military Courts with opposition parties.
The Military Courts were established for two years under the 21st Constitutional amendment following the December 2014 army public school Peshawar’s attack. Earlier this month, the Military Courts ceased to function after their term ended.
On Monday, the federal government in a high level meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told the military leadership that it had initiated consultations for Constitutional amendment to continue the Military Courts.
The meeting emphasized that the Military Courts played an extremely important role at a very crucial juncture of one action against extremism and terrorism, and translated the actions under operation Zarb-e-Azb to meaningful and tangible national gains.
