No safe havens: Scope of military courts to be extended

PM asks his legal team to support authorities in AJK and G-B as a draft for required legislation is prepared

ISLAMABAD:

The government has decided to extend the jurisdiction of the military courts to Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in an effort to stop terrorists from fleeing trials in military courts.

Nine military courts have been set up across the country since the 21st Constitutional Amendment Bill 2015 and the Pakistan Army Act (Amendment) Bill 2015 have been signed into laws following their approval by parliament.



This decision to extend the jurisdiction of the military courts to G-B and AJK was taken in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The meeting was convened to review progress on the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism.

According to an official handout, the meeting approved that the G-B and AJK governments will also adopt the new laws to facilitate establishment of military courts in their respective regions.

“There is no room for terrorism or terrorists in our society. The government is determined not to be at ease till the elimination of the last terrorist from our country,” Premier Nawaz was quoted as saying in the handout.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the stakeholders apprised the prime minister that most terrorist groups, banned outfits and proscribed organisations maintained safe havens in G-B and AJK, which are not covered under the Constitution of Pakistan.

With the establishment of military courts, terrorists have started moving to their base camps most of which are located in these two regions. Terrorists might flee to these regions after carrying out attacks in towns and cities in order to avoid trial in the military courts, the premier was told.

According to sources, the prime minister asked his legal team – comprising his Special Assistant on Parliamentary Affairs Barrsiter Zafarullah Khan and Attorney General of Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt – to support authorities in the AJK and G-B to prepare draft for required legislation.

President Mamnoon Hussian will extend the jurisdiction of the military courts to G-B through a presidential ordinance while the AJK council will adopt the required legislation to pave way for the establishment of military courts in the territory, they added.

Progress on military courts

The prime minister was also told that the Pakistan Army has designated staff for the military courts.  The military is involved in preparation of summary of trials, evidences and other ground work for the terrorists who would be tried in the military courts.

A few days back, Pakistan army had announced to set up nine military courts – three each in Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa and Punjab and two each in Sindh and Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2015.