‘Parallel system’: JI against extension in military courts’ term

Siraj says Panamagate case will be first test case for new chief justice

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq has said the military courts were setup for a limited period and the country cannot afford a parallel judicial system for an indefinite period.

Addressing a press conference at Mansoora on Friday, he said if the military courts were the solution for everything, all civil courts should be closed.

The senator said the nation had high expectations from the upcoming chief Justice and expected him to decide all cases without yielding to any pressure. “The nation had high hopes from the outgoing CJ as well but the learned judge announced much earlier that the Panama leaks case would be decided by his successor,” he added.

Siraj said the Panamagate case would be the first test case for the new chief Justice.

“The nation would be greatly indebted if he is successful in bringing the corrupt elite into the dock and retrieving the looted wealth,” he added.

The JI chief announced that whoever raised their voice against the National Accountability Bureau’s plea bargain, they would get full support by the JI.

He noted that criticism had emanated from some government circles against the plea bargain but the rulers were not ready to take any steps.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2016.