Govt should clarify why it wants to extend military courts: Opposition

Opposition parties also demand briefing on steps taken to improve criminal justice system

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Tuesday opposed extension the of military courts during a consultative meeting of political parties’ parliamentary leaders in the National Assembly, Express News reported.

Law Minister Zahid Hamid briefed the members of the meeting on the extension of military courts. The meeting, which was chaired by NA speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, was attended by the parliamentary leaders of PPP, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), JUI-F, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-Pakistan) and Jamat-e-Islami (JI).



“Our viewpoint on military courts is still the same and we will not support the extension of such courts,” JUI-F leader Akram Durrani was quoted as saying.

Leader of the Opposition in NA Khursheed Shah said, "We would like to hear from the government what circumstances have prompted it to move for the extension and what alternatives are available.”

JI chief Sirajul Haq said his party believed in strengthening civilian courts instead of seeking military’s help to take hardcore terrorists to task. “However, if opposition parties put their weight behind military courts, JI will stand by parliamentary forces,” he said.

Meanwhile, PPP and other opposition parties protested over the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Amendment Ordinance. Earlier, opposition parties held a separate meeting with leader of the opposition in the chair. It was decided that the opposition would adopt a joint strategy on the issue and would reject the decision to provide extension to the military courts.

On Monday, the federal government   announced it will introduce a constitutional amendment to extend the courts’ tenure for a period “to be agreed upon by all political parties represented in parliament”. Consultations are on in this context, the government said.

Taking to The Express Tribune the same day, Vice Chairman PTI Shah Mahmood Qureshi said: “Military courts have done a great job and have drastically reduced terrorism but my question is: what has the government done in two years to strengthen criminal justice system?"



He added that Interior Minister Nisar had earlier said cases of terrorism would be handled by anti-terrorism courts. "We want the government to clarify its policy – do they want to set up military courts? – and give us valid reasons for it."

The Express Tribune had on Sunday reported that a much-awaited meeting between the security command and the civilian government was expected soon where both the sides were likely to share their views on a number of crucial issues, including anti-terrorism laws, military courts and the National Action Plan (NAP).