Stalemate on military courts revival persists

Opposition throws the ball in govt’s court; govt to update MPs on counterterror initiative

ISLAMABAD: The opposition has accused the government of dilly-dallying on extending the tenure of military courts, which ceased functioning earlier this month after completing their mandated term.

The government has promised to update the opposition parties on its counterterrorism initiatives and the performance of military within a couple of weeks in an attempt to assuage the opposition’s concerns.



The military courts, which had been established in 2015 for two years to try hardcore terrorists, ceased functioning on January 7, 2017.

Currently, a parliamentary panel is discussing whether or not the military courts should be granted an extension in tenure. Several political parties, including some government allies, are reluctant to give them an extension.



In a crucial huddle of the parliamentary committee on Tuesday, the government told opposition leaders that the security establishment was willing to brief them on the two-year performance of military courts.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq presided over the meeting which was attended by the leaders of parliamentary parties. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Zahid Hamid and PM’s Special Assistant Barrister Zafarullah represented the government side.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the government has conveyed to the opposition that the security establishment was demanding an extension in the military courts’ tenure and was ready to brief MPs on the issue.

None of the opposition leader voiced opposition to extension in military courts’ tenure but conveyed to the government that they needed time to ‘politically secure’ their respective positions on the issue.



After mutual understanding, it was decided that in the next meeting of the panel – to be held on January 31 – the government would provide details of its counterterrorism drive, including steps taken on the implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism, reforms in the criminal justice system, strengthening criminal prosecution and reforming seminaries.



Sources quoted the leaders of PPP and Jamaat-e-Islami as telling the speaker that it was for the government to take a decision on extending the tenure of military courts, and that the issue did not ‘concern’ them.

After the meeting, Khursheed Shah told journalists that the opposition has given the government two weeks to come up with details of the steps it has taken thus far to counter terrorism.

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi told The Express Tribune that the government was using delaying tactics to keep the issue lingering.

“We were expecting that they would come prepared to answer the questions we posed in the previous meeting about the progress the government has made in strengthening the criminal justice system. However, they did not answer our queries,” he said.



Qureshi confirmed he has demanded in the meeting that parliament’s joint session be convened to evolve a joint strategy against terrorism and that the security and intelligence officials give an in-camera briefing to the lawmakers.

Khursheed Shah said the PPP and other opposition parties have effectively projected their stance during Tuesday’s meeting.

“At the end of the day, the government has to take a decision. We demand transparency and fair play in dealing with the matter. Since the government has consulted the opposition, we need valid explanations.

“We need to know what the government has done to introduce and strengthen a system as an alternate to military courts. If not, we want to know why,” Shah told The Express Tribune.

JI chief Sirajul Haq said the government has assured the opposition parties of its sincerity in evolving consensus on extending military courts’ tenure. However, Haq questioned the government’s ‘sincerity’.

“What kind of sincerity is this when your allies are not with you and you stand alone? Don’t play games and don’t try to fool everyone. It will backfire. The government needs to make a decision and stick to it,” he said.

Haq was not part of the meeting and his party was represented by MNA Sahibzada Tariqullah.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2017.