Counter-terrorism plan: Deadlock as religious, secular parties stick to their guns
JUI-F, JI insist on delinking terror from faith; PPP, others object to broadening military courts’ scope
JUI-F, JI insist on delinking terror from faith; PPP, others object to broadening military courts’ scope. STOCK IMAGE
ISLAMABAD:
A deadlock persists on a mechanism for the implementation of a new national plan to counter terrorism and extremism as the federal government struggles to evolve a consensus on required changes in the country’s criminal justice system.
The 20-point National Action Plan was worked out at two multiparty conferences that followed the December 16 massacre of schoolchildren at the Army Public School in Peshawar. Subsequently, parliament approved constitutional changes in order to set up military courts for speedy trial of terror suspects.
Sources in the interior ministry told The Express Tribune that some parliamentary parties have concerns over certain points of the NAP, including functioning and scope of the military courts, and action against militant groups, banned outfits, seminaries and hate literature.
Law Secretary Sardar Raza Khan confirmed a practical mechanism could not be worked out due to a deadlock. Key politico-religious parties – Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazl and Jamaat-e-Islami – insist on ‘delinking terrorism from religion’, but secular parties are unwilling to broaden the scope of the military courts.
Sources said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was trying to convince JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and JI Ameer Sirajul Haq on proposed legislation in return for a ‘package deal’ with certain guarantees and assurances. He is said to have assured the two leaders that the government would take into account the apprehensions of religious groups while implementing the NAP.
The Pakistan Peoples Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Awami National Party want action against all militant groups, including those involved in the disputed Himalayan state of Kashmir. Additionally, these parties do not favour establishment of military courts in Gilgit Baltistan (G-B).
PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar said his party had supported the 21st constitutional amendment for a specific purpose but “we should not let militarisation of the country’s criminal justice system”.
Senator Babar told The Express Tribune the PPP wants the military courts to prosecute only those “who are fighting with us in the name of religion or sect and any role [of military courts] beyond this will not be acceptable to us.”
JI lawmaker Sahibzada Tariqullah confirmed that Chaudhry Nisar has offered them a ‘package deal’. “Eighty per cent issues have been settled and the remaining 20% would be resolved soon,” he told The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2015.
A deadlock persists on a mechanism for the implementation of a new national plan to counter terrorism and extremism as the federal government struggles to evolve a consensus on required changes in the country’s criminal justice system.
The 20-point National Action Plan was worked out at two multiparty conferences that followed the December 16 massacre of schoolchildren at the Army Public School in Peshawar. Subsequently, parliament approved constitutional changes in order to set up military courts for speedy trial of terror suspects.
Sources in the interior ministry told The Express Tribune that some parliamentary parties have concerns over certain points of the NAP, including functioning and scope of the military courts, and action against militant groups, banned outfits, seminaries and hate literature.
Law Secretary Sardar Raza Khan confirmed a practical mechanism could not be worked out due to a deadlock. Key politico-religious parties – Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazl and Jamaat-e-Islami – insist on ‘delinking terrorism from religion’, but secular parties are unwilling to broaden the scope of the military courts.
Sources said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was trying to convince JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and JI Ameer Sirajul Haq on proposed legislation in return for a ‘package deal’ with certain guarantees and assurances. He is said to have assured the two leaders that the government would take into account the apprehensions of religious groups while implementing the NAP.
The Pakistan Peoples Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Awami National Party want action against all militant groups, including those involved in the disputed Himalayan state of Kashmir. Additionally, these parties do not favour establishment of military courts in Gilgit Baltistan (G-B).
PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar said his party had supported the 21st constitutional amendment for a specific purpose but “we should not let militarisation of the country’s criminal justice system”.
Senator Babar told The Express Tribune the PPP wants the military courts to prosecute only those “who are fighting with us in the name of religion or sect and any role [of military courts] beyond this will not be acceptable to us.”
JI lawmaker Sahibzada Tariqullah confirmed that Chaudhry Nisar has offered them a ‘package deal’. “Eighty per cent issues have been settled and the remaining 20% would be resolved soon,” he told The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2015.