The National Action Plan Committee (NAPC) – formed in the wake of a deadly attack on a Peshawar school –on Tuesday left it to political parties to decide whether or not military courts are established for the speedy trial of terrorists and how madrassas should be reformed.
The committee, however, agreed that a rapid response force should be established to address the menace of terrorism across the country.
After nine-hour long deliberations the NAPC adopted the majority of recommendations of anti-terror experts, who had proposed an action plan based on 17 recommendations.
“Military or special courts and madrassas’ reforms remained the sticking point in the NAPC meeting. It is now up to the leadership of all political parties to decide whether they want to establish military courts for the speedy trial of terrorism related cases or not,” a member of the committee told The Express Tribune.
The NAPC is presenting its recommendations to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who will take up these recommendations in all parties’ conference on Wednesday (today), committee member Qamar Zaman Kaira told media after the meeting.
“The idea of speedy trial courts and madrassa reform committee has been floated by the NAPC. We stand by military action against militants,” he said.
Another insider said all members of the committee agreed that an amendment should be made in the Constitution to resolve the issue of forming special courts or military courts.
He said three mainstream parties supported the idea of forming military courts.
“However, Awami National Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Peoples Party said their leadership will give their final take on this issue in the all parties conference today,” another member of the committee said.
He said the ANP, the PTI and the PPP were worried about the message the people receive in case military courts are formed to try civilians. “To try civilians in military courts is a failure of the civilian judicial system and a wrong message will also go to our judiciary,” he said, while summing up their apprehensions. He said the Jamaat-e-Islami also opposed the idea of forming military courts.
At the same time, the NAPC recommended that all madrassas be registered by the government, another member of the committee revealed.
“The committee also deliberated on the audit of the sources of madrassa funding. It was also suggested by some members that madrassas should work under the ministry of education of all provinces and their literature should be also monitored by the same ministry,” he said.
The committee also recommended forming a counter-terrorism council to be headed by prime minister. It also agreed that National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) should be made an effective body and the premier, according to its Nacta Act 2013, chair its board of governors meetings. Under the proposed plan, Nacta will also prepare a list of most wanted persons involved in terrorism, he added.
Representatives of all political parties also agreed to this point that printers and publishers, who are publishing materials promoting hate and extremism, should be tried under schedule four of 1997 Act, the insider further revealed.
“The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will investigate religious groups which accept funds from foreign countries,” he added.
Commenting on the issue of military courts, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan said such courts could not be established under the existing laws mentioned in the 1973 Constitution. “Military courts can only try military men; however, civilians, if they commit crime directly linked to military affairs, can be court-martialed under section 2 (1-d) of Pakistan Army Act, 1952,” he said.
Jurist Ahmer Bilal Soofi, however, observed that if the government feels that the existing option of anti-terrorism courts are not fulfilling the object of restoring public order then it has the option to form special courts or even military courts.
“This should be taken as an executive action during war which should not be challenged by other organs of the state including the judiciary because in war like situation we need to trust judgment of executive branch of the government,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2014.
COMMENTS (14)
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--- Addendum to my earlier comment ---
MQM has also opposed military courts, and has declared imposition of Martial Law to be preferable to that. Obviously, a party which has suffered dozens of its workers whisked away allegedly by civilian law enforcers or others in civilian clothes, and found dead bodies of some of them later while others remain missing, will be apprehensive of any mechanism which could be misused against it. MQM also experienced widespread torture and extra-judicial killings during two earlier operations against it by civilian law enforcers as well as the military. This necessitates building into the system proper safeguards to make absolutely certain that the military courts' jurisdiction is clearly and narrowly defined, so as to eliminate all risks of their possible misuse by individuals, parties or government.
With its demonstrated capacity and performance record, the the judiciary in the present overall state of things, is simply incapable of coping with the situation. At the same time, its capacity-building and improvement in investigative and prosecution procedures and purging the system of corruption and inefficiency could take years, which brings us back to the military courts, with adequate safeguards to prevent misuse, as the only practical solution, at least for the short and medium term.
Karachi
Nothing will happen. Even if they decide to do they don't have the will to implement any revolutionary steps.
They are all ashole creating a drama. They will not do anything against terrorist bcoz they feed them. just wasting time in creating Military court or special trial.
@Hamood: @just_someone: Then how they save their own Skin.....???
The committee agreed to a rapid response force, because politicians can use it for their protocol services. At the end they will all agree to not agree. Why all this action plan? The system has totally failed.
Army courts is a must for handling the current situation in Pakistan. PPP and PML N both must help set up these courts.
Our civilian courts have routinely demonstrated that they are incapable of handling these criminals. It is time to put party differences aside and work towards saving the unity of various ethnicity and sectarian harmony in Pakistan.
Committees are useless and just do it and hand it over to the army; they have already hung 5 whereas the rest of the courts are still debating and it appears negotiating prices.
The meeting was successful ...... They agreed to disagree .. !!!
Guys, are you out of your mind? Why would you want to put a photo of him "smiling"?
I had to really convince myself to read this news..
If you have any brain, then at least change the picture.
Thanks!
Bunch of idiots will decide future path of nation
“To try civilians in military courts is a failure of the civilian judicial system and a wrong message will also go to our judiciary,” What's the doubt about it? Civil courts and leadership have completely failed.
Nothing could be expected from NAPC since those same politicians are in it who have brought Pakistan to this stage and are concerned only about the self interest. Army must take over to save the country from these traitors.
Anyone surprised that the Committee didn't amt to anything? Anybody? . Sharif should be ashamed of himself - he lacks leadership skills and some say he has no backbone.
Establish military courts please. Our civilian judicial system is a failure on all levels.
These people are just disgusting if they cant even agree that madarsahs should be reformed and regulated! Just registering them wont do anything! Case in point: Lal Masjid is a registered entity and FUNDED by the government!