ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The 342-member National Assembly on Tuesday with two-thirds majority passed the 21st Constitutional amendment, aimed at setting up military courts for speedy trial of terrorists.
The Constitution (21st Amendment) Bill was approved by 247 members of the National Assembly and no one opposed it.
The lawmakers belonging to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) abstained from voting.
The bill will now be presented in the Senate for passage tomorrow and is expected to be approved into law on either Wednesday or Thursday.
The 21st Constitutional amendment bill says that the extraordinary situation and circumstances exists which demand special measures for speedy trial of certain offences relating to terrorism, waging of war or insurrection against Pakistan and for prevention of acts threatening the security of Pakistan by the terrorist groups.
The provisions of the Act shall remain in force for a period of two years from the date of its commencement.
The House also unanimously passed bill to amend Army Act-1952 for establishment of special military courts to overcome terrorism.
Earlier addressing the session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, the opposition leader Syed Khursheed Shah said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was under immense pressure to decide what to do in wake of its registered opposition to military courts.
Khursheed Shah said that his party agreed to this law with heavy hearts, and with sole purpose to use it against terrorists.
“We believe that military courts will follow law and constitution,” the PPP leader said. “We want Pakistan of Quiad-e-Azam and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.”
The PPP senior leader said that no one could even think about passing any law contrary to teachings of Islam and Prophet (PBUH).
The Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Pervaiz Rasheed had moved the Constitution (21st Amendment) Bill and the Pakistan Army Act (Amendment) Bill in the National Assembly, aimed at bringing amendments in the Constitution and Pakistan Army Act 1952 to pave the way for establishment of military courts for speedy trial of terrorists.
