Cantonment areas: Military courts planned in three Sindh districts

Minister says provincial authorities will scrutinise 2,836 ATC cases

KARACHI:

Military courts will be set up in three districts of Sindh in the first phase, following Thursday’s endorsement by the province’s apex committee headed by Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah. In the same phase, some 50 high-profile terrorist cases will be referred to these courts.

Although the exact number of these courts has not been specified as yet, officials privy to the development said they will initially be set up in the cantonment areas of Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur districts.

The officials said that the apex committee has decided to refer 50 high-profile terrorist cases to the military courts. These would include the attacks on Karachi airport and PNS Mehran, and the Karsaz blast on late Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chief Benazir Bhutto’s homecoming rally.



“Currently, there are 2,836 cases pending with the 19 anti-terrorism courts of Sindh. The provincial government will scrutinise all these cases and refer them to the federal government which will then pass them on to the military courts,” Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon told the media in a briefing about the apex committee’s decisions.

Memon added that any high-profile terrorist cases, not just those motivated by religion or sectarianism, could be referred to the military courts.

Thursday’s meeting was attended by several high-level civil, military and law enforcement officials. The apex commitee discussed at length the implementation of the National Action Plan against terrorism. Those in attendance included Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad, Karachi Corps Commander Lt-Gen Naveed Mukhtar and Rangers Director General Maj-Gen Bilal Akbar. The province’s chief secretary, home secretary, inspector general of police and the commissioner of Karachi also took part in the huddle, along with representatives from intelligence agencies.

According to officials, the committee decided to constitute four sub-committees to oversee the implementation of the National Action Plan. These include the execution and legal committees – both headed by the home secretary – a media committee headed by Sharjeel Memon and an investigation committee which comprise officials from both civil and military intelligence agencies.

Sources privy to the meeting told The Express Tribune that intelligence officials asked the Sindh government to expedite the scrutiny of 475 cases of terror convicts sentenced to death so that their executions can begin from January 13.

Talking to reporters, the Sindh information minister also announced that the provincial government will start executing terror convicts on death row from January 13. “Whenever the federal government asks, we will start executing these terrorists,” he said.

Intelligence officials also shared a list of 950 terrorists and target killers in the meeting so that bounties for their heads could be announced, sources said. Some 500 of these belong to religious outfits, they said.

‘Sindh anti-terrorist force’

At his briefing, Sharjeel Memon said the Sindh government has decided in principle to launch an anti-terrorist force in the province. Around 1,000 police officials would be inducted into this force, he told reporters, adding that the induction process would begin soon.

Memon said the provincial government also plans to float a bill in the Sindh Assembly which would make it mandatory for landlords and tenants to inform the police before any house or apartment is rented out. He also asked citizens to thoroughly vet the credentials of any prospective employees before hiring them.

The minister also revealed Sindh government’s plans to scrutinise 270 private security firms to make sure no criminals or terrorists had been hired as guards. The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) will help conduct this exercise, he said.

According to the minister, the government will also mount a crackdown on illegal immigrants in the province and take action against any Nadra officials found guilty of issuing identity cards and birth certificates to them.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.