Speedy trials: Military courts will be unconstitutional, says ex-CJ
Chaudhry urges govt to set up more civilian courts
ISLAMABAD:
Former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that the establishment of military courts through a constitutional amendment will be unconstitutional.
“The establishment of military courts is against the spirit of the 1973 Constitution,” Chaudhry told journalists on Tuesday. “There is no need for military courts in the presence of an independence of judiciary,” he said and blamed weak prosecution for low convictions in terrorism-related cases.
Chaudhry said the government should increase the number of civilian courts for speedy trial instead of establishing military courts. He added that he was surprised to see the lawmakers “who have taken an oath to defend the Constitution committing an illegal act by supporting military courts”.
Supreme Court Bar Association President Fazal-i-Haq Abbasi also opposed the establishment of military courts through a constitutional amendment. “Instead of setting up military courts, the government should improve the existing judicial system including the working of anti-terrorism courts,” he told The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2014.
Former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that the establishment of military courts through a constitutional amendment will be unconstitutional.
“The establishment of military courts is against the spirit of the 1973 Constitution,” Chaudhry told journalists on Tuesday. “There is no need for military courts in the presence of an independence of judiciary,” he said and blamed weak prosecution for low convictions in terrorism-related cases.
Chaudhry said the government should increase the number of civilian courts for speedy trial instead of establishing military courts. He added that he was surprised to see the lawmakers “who have taken an oath to defend the Constitution committing an illegal act by supporting military courts”.
Supreme Court Bar Association President Fazal-i-Haq Abbasi also opposed the establishment of military courts through a constitutional amendment. “Instead of setting up military courts, the government should improve the existing judicial system including the working of anti-terrorism courts,” he told The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2014.