Pakistan’s political leadership agrees to setup military courts

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s political leadership on Wednesday agreed to setup military courts for two years to cope with the scourge of terrorism that has claimed over 50,000 lives.

Representatives of political parties unanimously approved a resolution during a meeting of parliamentary parties chaired by prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

The resolution called for extra ordinary measures in the face of what the political leadership dubbed as extra ordinary circumstances.

They decided to introduce amendments in the constitution to pave way for the establishment of special courts to be chaired by military officers.

Pakistan People’s Party, MQM, ANP and Jamaat-e-Islami had earlier expressed reservations over the military courts. But late in the night, Senator Rehman Malik was trying to persuade Altaf Hussain to support the resolution.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be addressing the nation shortly to announce the decision.