ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The 21st Constitutional Amendment has become part of the Constitution after being signed by President Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday.
The president also signed the Pakistan Army Act 1952 Amendment into law at the Presidency in Islamabad.
The National Assembly and the Senate on Tuesday passed the 21st Constitutional Amendment and the Pakistan Army Act 1952 Amendment Bill, aimed at speedy trial of terrorists through special courts headed by military officers.
In the 342-member National Assembly, 247 members cast their votes in favour of the Constitutional amendment and amendment in Pakistan Army Act while 78 Senators voted in favour of the bills in the Upper House of the Parliament.
No lawmaker in both the Houses voted against the bills.
However, the lawmakers belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) did not attend the proceedings of the House.
“This bill is about military courts trying hardcore terrorists who kill Pakistanis…this is an important day for Pakistan when the nation decided that terrorists will be taken out from the roots,” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said while speaking on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.
