ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Following its successful passage from the National Assembly, the 28th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2017 also received the nod from the Senate on Tuesday, crossing almost the last hurdle in legally covering the two-year extension to the Military Courts.
In the Upper House of the Parliament, the 28th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2017 received 78 votes in its favour whereas three lawmakers opposed it.
The bill was moved in the Senate by the Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid to further amend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The 28th Constitutional Amendment Bill had already been passed by the National Assembly with two-third majority on March 21.
Earlier, the House resumed its further discussion on 28th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2017 with the Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani in the Chair.
While speaking on the floor of the House, the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that extension in Military Courts is need of the hour to eradicate terrorism from the country. He said that we should not be apologetic on extending the term of military courts for another two years as it is a right decision.
The Leader of the Opposition Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said that not a single point of National Action Plan (NAP) except establishment of Military Courts, has been implemented by the federal government, and that is why we are now again passing this amendment.
The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP)’s Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan Musakhel opposed the bill and said that by extending Military Courts, democratic parties are strengthening dictatorship in the Country.