SC’s verdict on military courts will help fight against terrorism, PM tells NA

PM Nawaz says govt has decided not to support any resolution seeking to de-seat PTI lawmakers

ISLAMABAD: Hailing the Supreme Court's landmark verdict upholding the establishment of military courts, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday the decision will aid Pakistan’s fight against terrorism.

“The historic decision of the Supreme Court will have a positive impact on Pakistan,” PM Nawaz told parliamentarians during his address in the National Assembly.

Read: Supreme Court upholds establishment of military courts

“Today is an important day for politics and democracy in Pakistan,” the prime minister said, adding that extraordinary situations require extraordinary steps.

PM Nawaz said political parties had reservations on military courts which have now been addressed by the apex court.

“Government preferred consultation with all political parties on National Action Plan, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and foreign policy,” he said, suggesting whether issues are big or small, the only solution to all problems is Parliament.

The prime minister also informed the parliamentarians that the government has decided not to support any resolution seeking to de-seat PTI lawmakers.

“We believe that every respected parliamentarian has made his way to the Parliament through people’s mandate,” PM Nawaz said. “We want all the political parties to play their role in the Parliament.”

The government has urged the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) to take the de-seating resolutions back, the prime minister added.

“I have personally requested Maulana Fazlur Rehman and MQM MNAs to take back the resolutions in the greater interest of democracy."

“Although the dharna movement negatively impacted the country’s economy but we should now move forward instead of looking back and avoid using non-parliamentary language inside the House to shun conflicts,” the premier suggested.

Read: Full court hearing: Military courts nothing new, says LHCBA counsel

Earlier today, in a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions against establishment of military courts with majority. The apex court, in an 11-6 decision, dismissed a slew of petitions against the 21st constitutional amendment wherein military courts have been established to try militants. A 17-judge full bench had also dismissed petitions against the incumbent procedure of appointment of judges in a wide 14-3 decision.

Opposition hails SC verdict

Meanwhile, speaking in the National Assembly, Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah praised the SC’s ruling which according to him proved that "Parliament is supreme." “The situation was serious and remains serious today and this is why we supported military courts,” he said.

MQM leader Abdul Rashid Godail informed the parliamentarians that his party respected the Constitution but the situation his party workers were going through was against the spirit of democracy.

“We are being targeted but no one is listening to us,” Godails said and threatened to resign from the Parliament if anyone termed him a ‘criminal’.

Further, the MQM leader requested the prime minister and the leader of opposition to intervene in the issues of hundreds of MQM workers who have gone missing in Karachi.

“Any committee formed by the government to resolve the de-seating issue has not contacted us so far,” he added.