ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said on Saturday that the army did not put any pressure on politicians for the formation of military courts, while further clarifying that the courts would "try terrorists and terrorists only".
Answering a question during a press conference, the interior minister said the army did not "take any stand" regarding the establishment of military courts, let alone apply any pressure.
Nisar said all political parties were at the meeting and nothing was decided in secrecy, adding that the army said they would accept whatever decision was made.
He further said the special courts would "try terrorists, and terrorists only," adding that the establishment of the courts is only one aspect of the National Action Plan.
"It is not necessary that a person who is tried in the military courts will be hanged," the interior minister said. "They can walk free from military courts if their innocence is proven."
He said the NAP had not been properly reported, and that the militarty courts were not solely the NAP itself.
Nisar also made plain that provinces have just as much responsibility as the federal government does in regard to the NAP.
"A trio of the government, the army, and provinces make up Pakistan," he said.
"Provinces have a key role to play in the National Action Plan, but some provinces have not held meetings for it," he said.
Further, the interior minister said it was time for provincial governments to stop putting the blame solely on the federal government.
"Provinces need to take responsibility," Nisar said, and in reference to the blame said terrorists want there to be internal conflict as well.
Nisar said the allegations regarding a failure in intelligence in regards to the Peshawar school attack were false.
"The intelligence had issued reports regarding the attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar," he said. "Those who say intelligence failed should take a look at those reports again."
Highlighting other aspects of the NAP, Nisar stated that action will be taken against those who are those accused of hate speech or anyone who is promoting sectarian differences.
Moreover, Nisar said it is essential for the public to also play their role in the NAP, saying, "It is important for the public to report any suspicious activity to the helpline, 1717. However, this helpline must not be toyed with."
He also said there has been a misconception about madrassahs. He said it is not necessary that all madrassahs are supporting militancy.
"Very few of them are doing so, and those that are responsible for this will be taken to task -- but only if there is proof against them," he said.
Speaking about the role of the media, he said the media should not glorify terrorists.
"The media should 'blackout' the threats made by terrorists, they should not give them a voice," Nisar said.
He appealed to the masses to be careful of organisations they provide donations to.
"The govt will use resources of the FBR and intelligence agencies to investigate funding channels of militant organisations," he said.
COMMENTS (12)
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Dear Mr Nisar, I believe in Santa Claus also.
The Khakis are back in charge.If there was any doubt all you had to do was look at Zardari s face it said it all. It all came back to him the murder of BB. The Marriot hotel bombing and all the extra judicial killings in Karachi. The trails all lead back to Zardari
Last time ch nisar told a lie ISPR refuted with a tweet....
There are lies, and there are lies. LOL. This Interior Minister will surely win a medal. The story of PML-N. Nothing goes wrong, everything in control, we don't get any pressure, everything best. What a pack.
What can we expect from the government and military when our interior minister says: the government, the army, and provinces make up #Pakistan.
Does he not know parliamentary form of government where executive power, elected legislature, and independent judiciary are the three pillars and Media is considered the fourth. Army has no place in sharing power as it lies under the MOD. Disgracefully unacceptable!
The situation seems like the government wants to take itself aside and by letting the army decide and take control. What a shame, making the whole nation fool. The military courts are no solution to root out terrorism. A bad precedent will be set in the history where the civil courts failed to provide justice and military courts were put in place. The government should have given the civil courts more power, authority and also by not delaying the prosecutions. Unfortunately, no lessons are learnt, just shifting the responsibilities onto another' shoulders and keeping oneself at safe side. As a matter of principle, justice is to be served only by the civilian courts where a fair trial is given to the victim. But we are in haste and in the mood of revenge. By this we are overseeing our weaknesses and flaws in our system.
"Army did not put any pressure over formation of military courts: Nisar"
Ya, right! Army only placed a telephone call.
Ok Mr Nisar IF you say so.
where is democratic champion javid hashmi, which busted imran khan without any proof and had film scene in day dreaming when even govt deliberately invited army men
I was listening to this Minister and he seemed so fond of his own voice that in the process he very precisely warned Taliban to take security measures as well and these are our security plans for you to note down. It could be deliberate as this Minister has failed to nab terrorist Aziz of Burqa fame. He also disclosed his family contacts with this molvi and that perhaps is the hurdle. But very shamefully no journalist had the courage to ask this Minister about Burqa Molvi. This is the Media if you call it one.
Yes, we trust you Chaudhry Sahab!!!
Your track record re your portfolio and the Law and Oeder situation in Pakistan is no better than the last PPP clown, Rehman Malik.
They did not put any pressure on you, but you knew the "or else" scenario.
Federal Interior Minister need not to clarify that Army put pressure on civilian government for establishing military courts which once established will be called as special courts.
The question arises: why there was a dire need to establish military/special courts to deal with terrorists in the presence of speedy trails anti-terrorism courts and the normal city courts, high court and Supreme Court.
The happens when the government do not pay any heed towards the greivances of the general public and the lathargic attitude of the normal courts.
Why cases filed in Saudi Arabia Courts takes few weeks and months to bring the culprits to justice and why the courts in Pakistan can't announce judgements even in decades?
Had Pakistani Courts been provided more judges they would have been able to listen to the cases and procceded further instead of adjourning the cases on most of the dates fixed for hearing.
I my self attend hearing in one of the civilian cases at the Sindh High Court but most of the time the judges do not have enough time to listen to the parties, resulting in adjournment at most of the dates fixed for hearings.
A judge at the High Court can hardly listen 10 to 12 cases until the tea break at 10:30am and then take few more cases until 13:30 hrs, whereas the daily list presented before the judge is 60 to 70 cases per day.
Pakistan needs major judicial reforms to deal with terrorism as well as for civil cases and until the reforms are not done under National Action Plan, nothing is going to move and country will go from bad to worst.