Ready for action: K-P govt yet to transfer cases to military courts

Cases where verdict is foregone conclusion to be forwarded, say sources.

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government is yet to decide which cases will be transferred to the military courts, which are poised to take on cases related to terrorism.

While meetings of relevant officials are under way, insiders at the K-P Home and Tribal Affairs department told The Express Tribune on Tuesday the list of cases to be sent  to the military courts has not been finalised.

“The military courts are ready to start their work, but the police prosecution has to finalise the number and list of cases,” said an official of the department, requesting anonymity.



According to him, the home secretary held meetings with security agencies and it was decided only those cases in which the verdict was almost a foregone conclusion would be transferred to military courts.

The courts will try to decide the cases within 10 to 15 days. “Only those cases of terrorism in which the police arrested the suspects and have almost completed their investigations will be transferred,” he said. The army can’t take to the streets to gather information and arrest suspects, he added.

“Judges of civilian courts and prosecutors don’t have the necessary security and therefore cases linger on. At the same time, military courts can decide cases promptly without any delay of fear,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2015.