Powers given to Rangers in Sindh different from rest of Pakistan: Asif Zardari

PPP co-chairman presents 9-point proposal for re-establishing military courts

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Monday said the incumbent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government is not serious about implementing the National Action Plan.

Zardari clarified his party was not against military courts, saying they have advised extension in their tenure for a year. "We have never opposed military courts and are only coming up with recommendations on the proposal," Zardari told journalists in Islamabad.



“We are making it clear to the government that we are with the Pakistan Army,” Zardari said and added, “PPP has been fighting terrorists and will continue to fight them.”

Slamming the government over its alleged failure regarding implementation of NAP, he said: “The government has money to build roads and infrastructure but not for NAP.”

The PPP leader went on to add that the law for [deputing] Rangers in Sindh was different than other law enforcement agencies in the rest of the country. "The notification for deployment of Rangers in Punjab is different than that of Sindh."

The PPP co-chairman advised Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar to appoint judges for the military courts. “We have come up with a 9-point agenda for the government [to reestablish military courts,” he said.



Zardari also said that the law needs to clearly define terrorism. “There must be a clear definition of terrorism,” he stressed, claiming some people managed to escape the definition of terrorism.

The PPP leader said suspects held in connection with terrorism cases should be produced within 24 hours of their arrest.

The military courts were established through the 21st Constitutional Amendment after the attack on Peshawar’s Army Public School in December 2014 that left 150 people, mostly children, dead.