‘Military courts issue not a bargaining chip for NRO’
PML-N leaders say party to decide after hearing govt’s reasons
PHOTO: PID
LAHORE:
Former Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair says Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is not using the issue of military courts as a bargaining chip for any NRO, while clarifying that the party would decide its position on the matter after the government puts forwards its reason for an extension.
He said that military courts were brought to help security agencies to deal with abnormal security situation in 2014 during PML-N’s tenure. Even when military courts were granted a two-year extension, the reasons were thoroughly discussed and carefully analysed, he remarked.
He said that in general PML-N does not support the idea of military courts but as yet no decision has been taken by the party on the subject. He said that we want the government to give its reason as to why an extension to military courts was needed. He said that if strong and logical reasons are given by the government, then PML-N might support the extension.
After PPP, PML-N also opposes extension of military courts
Zubair continued that the party was only holding back its decision in the larger national interest. Calling the overall security situation of the country greatly improved, he said there seemed to be no reason for an extension.
However, he added, that it had been over six months since PML-N’s tenure ended, so they might not have the full picture of the security situation. Furthermore, he said, once the government gives its reason, the party would deliberate the issue internally and decide on it.
He reiterated that PML-N was not using this issue to strike any deal as was being speculated. “We are fighting our legal battle in courts,” he said.
Senior PML-N leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, while addressing a gathering on Sunday, reportedly said that his party does not support extension of military courts, which has been denied by party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb. She said that party is yet to make a final decision on the issue.
Commenting on Abbasi’s address, she said that he was not the party spokesperson but is entitled to his personal opinion on the subject.
Another stakeholder of the newly-formed opposition alliance, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), on the other hand, has reaffirmed its resolve to oppose any extension in military courts tenure.
It’s up to parliament to decide fate of military courts: DG ISPR
PML-N leaders have claimed that the alliance would not be effected, if both parties take a different approach on military court issue. Punjab’s former law minister and current Member of National Assembly (MNA) Rana Sana Ullah said that it’s not important for all the opposition parties to share same opinion. “Both [PML-N and PPP] are independent parties, with independent approaches.”
Exhorting patience, he asked to wait for the issue to be raised in parliament or at least let the government approach PML-N for any extension, before “we decide what position to take”.
Another PML-N leader Javed Latif said that his party would try and keep all the opposition parties on the same page on every issue to ensure the alliance stays intact. He added that if the PML-N decides to support the extension, it would talk to PPP and other parties and try and convince them on the issue.
Former Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair says Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is not using the issue of military courts as a bargaining chip for any NRO, while clarifying that the party would decide its position on the matter after the government puts forwards its reason for an extension.
He said that military courts were brought to help security agencies to deal with abnormal security situation in 2014 during PML-N’s tenure. Even when military courts were granted a two-year extension, the reasons were thoroughly discussed and carefully analysed, he remarked.
He said that in general PML-N does not support the idea of military courts but as yet no decision has been taken by the party on the subject. He said that we want the government to give its reason as to why an extension to military courts was needed. He said that if strong and logical reasons are given by the government, then PML-N might support the extension.
After PPP, PML-N also opposes extension of military courts
Zubair continued that the party was only holding back its decision in the larger national interest. Calling the overall security situation of the country greatly improved, he said there seemed to be no reason for an extension.
However, he added, that it had been over six months since PML-N’s tenure ended, so they might not have the full picture of the security situation. Furthermore, he said, once the government gives its reason, the party would deliberate the issue internally and decide on it.
He reiterated that PML-N was not using this issue to strike any deal as was being speculated. “We are fighting our legal battle in courts,” he said.
Senior PML-N leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, while addressing a gathering on Sunday, reportedly said that his party does not support extension of military courts, which has been denied by party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb. She said that party is yet to make a final decision on the issue.
Commenting on Abbasi’s address, she said that he was not the party spokesperson but is entitled to his personal opinion on the subject.
Another stakeholder of the newly-formed opposition alliance, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), on the other hand, has reaffirmed its resolve to oppose any extension in military courts tenure.
It’s up to parliament to decide fate of military courts: DG ISPR
PML-N leaders have claimed that the alliance would not be effected, if both parties take a different approach on military court issue. Punjab’s former law minister and current Member of National Assembly (MNA) Rana Sana Ullah said that it’s not important for all the opposition parties to share same opinion. “Both [PML-N and PPP] are independent parties, with independent approaches.”
Exhorting patience, he asked to wait for the issue to be raised in parliament or at least let the government approach PML-N for any extension, before “we decide what position to take”.
Another PML-N leader Javed Latif said that his party would try and keep all the opposition parties on the same page on every issue to ensure the alliance stays intact. He added that if the PML-N decides to support the extension, it would talk to PPP and other parties and try and convince them on the issue.