National Action Plan: Sindh govt shortlists 120 cases for military courts

Cases of attack on Benazir's convoy, PNS Mehran and Karachi airport to be forwarded

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to refer around 120 terrorism cases to military courts, according to officials in the home department.

Cases pertaining to attacks on military installations and targeted killings will be referred to the courts. Cases which have been finalised include the attacks on Karachi's Jinnah International Airport and PNS Mehran, as well as the deadly attack on former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's homecoming procession on Karsaz in 2007.

Sources said Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah held a meeting a few days ago regarding the implementation of the National Action Plan. The CM directed officials of the legal and execution committee formed to scrutinise cases to expedite the process of shortlisting cases for military courts.

Additionally, sources said the prime minister was due to hold a meeting in Karachi on Monday regarding the action plan, but this was postponed due to the ongoing petrol crisis. A meeting will likely be scheduled soon and chief ministers of all provinces invited to brief the PM on implementation of the NAP, sources added.

Of the 20 points in the action plan, 14 pertain to provincial governments and therefore, there is pressure on provincial governments to implement these points without delay, sources said. Thus the Sindh Assembly is likely to pass legislation pertaining to this in the next session tomorrow (Wednesday).

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2015.