Roundtable discussion: Speakers oppose military courts
Say long-term solution to militancy lies in good governance, equality
Say long-term solution to militancy lies in good governance, equality. STOCK IMAGE
Good governance and indiscriminate enforcement of the rule of law alone can help bring an end to terrorism and extremism from the country in the long-run. The establishment of military courts would be in conflict with the fundamental structure of the constitution.
This was said by speakers at a roundtable discussion at the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) here on Wednesday.
The participants also demanded formulation of short and long-term strategies to combat terrorism and cautioned against repercussions of military-led trial courts for civil-military relations.
The speakers said it could be a partial short-term remedy but the real answer to crime and terror would come from a revamped legal justice system.
Legal experts underlined that the ongoing debate on how to counter terrorism lacked clarity.
They said that it should be clear as to whether the parliament wants to deal with the situation through the civil law or the law of war. They also demanded that madrassa reforms must be taken seriously.
Participants emphasised that all proscribed organisations and their leaders be sternly dealt with in accordance with the law.
They said that rather than introducing new laws, the government and other state institutions must try indiscriminately enforcing the existing laws.
The forum also demanded the repeal of the Article 247 of Constitution (which vests all Fata-related powers in the office of the President) and the extension of fundamental rights to Fata, as demanded by the Peshawar High Court.
Participants welcomed the announcements by the army and the government that the “distinction between good and bad Taliban” was not relevant any more. Some participants however pointed out that the same must apply to Kashmir-focused militant groups.
Media representatives warned that the post-December 16 national consensus was vanishing because of the paradoxical positions taken by politicians.
Murtaza Solangi (former DG Radio Pakistan), Ayaz Wazir (former ambassador), Maj Gen (retd) Athar Abbas (former DG ISPR) Jan Achakzai (spokesperson of JUI-F), Tahira Abdullah (human rights activist), Shahzad Akbar (founder Foundation for Fundamental Rights), Farhatullah Babar (PPP Senator), Syed Talat Hussain (TV anchor), Dr Shoaib Suddle (former IG Police), Nasim Zahra (journalist), Lt Gen (retired) Asif Yaseen Malik (former defence secretary), Lt Gen (retired) Masood Aslam (ex-corps commander Peshawar) and others attended the roundtable.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2014.
This was said by speakers at a roundtable discussion at the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) here on Wednesday.
The participants also demanded formulation of short and long-term strategies to combat terrorism and cautioned against repercussions of military-led trial courts for civil-military relations.
The speakers said it could be a partial short-term remedy but the real answer to crime and terror would come from a revamped legal justice system.
Legal experts underlined that the ongoing debate on how to counter terrorism lacked clarity.
They said that it should be clear as to whether the parliament wants to deal with the situation through the civil law or the law of war. They also demanded that madrassa reforms must be taken seriously.
Participants emphasised that all proscribed organisations and their leaders be sternly dealt with in accordance with the law.
They said that rather than introducing new laws, the government and other state institutions must try indiscriminately enforcing the existing laws.
The forum also demanded the repeal of the Article 247 of Constitution (which vests all Fata-related powers in the office of the President) and the extension of fundamental rights to Fata, as demanded by the Peshawar High Court.
Participants welcomed the announcements by the army and the government that the “distinction between good and bad Taliban” was not relevant any more. Some participants however pointed out that the same must apply to Kashmir-focused militant groups.
Media representatives warned that the post-December 16 national consensus was vanishing because of the paradoxical positions taken by politicians.
Murtaza Solangi (former DG Radio Pakistan), Ayaz Wazir (former ambassador), Maj Gen (retd) Athar Abbas (former DG ISPR) Jan Achakzai (spokesperson of JUI-F), Tahira Abdullah (human rights activist), Shahzad Akbar (founder Foundation for Fundamental Rights), Farhatullah Babar (PPP Senator), Syed Talat Hussain (TV anchor), Dr Shoaib Suddle (former IG Police), Nasim Zahra (journalist), Lt Gen (retired) Asif Yaseen Malik (former defence secretary), Lt Gen (retired) Masood Aslam (ex-corps commander Peshawar) and others attended the roundtable.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2014.