Parliamentary session reaches consensus over extension of military courts

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentarians developed consensus over extension of military courts for two years.

The decision came in a parliamentary session, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, held on Tuesday in which the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) did not take part.

Speaking to journalists after the parliamentary session, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the PPP has called an All Parties Conference (APC) on March 4. "No politics will be done on this particular issue," he said.

Elaborating he said a National Assembly Session will be held on March 6 over the issue.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that country was going through extraordinary circumstances. He added that even though extension of military courts was not the best decision, they had agreed over its extension for two years.

"There should be no politics on terrorism," he added.

The PTI also refused to participate in the APC scheduled by the PPP, saying that it has already agreed over the extension of military courts. In a tweet PTI chief Imran Khan made the announcement. 

PTI will not be attending PPP-called APC as Parl Parties ldrs' mtg has agreed to mly courts Constit Amend Bill to be tabled in NA on 6 March

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 28, 2017

Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmed Sherpao said that it was not a good decision to extend military courts again and again. "However one needs to do away with terrorism," he said.

Jamat-e-Islami leader Sahibzada Tariqullah said, "Military courts are the need of time."

Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rasheed said that his party was in favour of military courts.

MQM-P expresses reservations

Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan chief Dr Farooq Sattar said that the present government had done nothing to improve the existing courts. He said he will express his reservations over the issue of military courts to the Prime Minister.

The military courts set up in the aftermath of the Army Public School Attack in 2014, expired after their two-year-period in January this year. All cases being tried in the military courts were handed over to the anti-terrorism courts.

However a recent wave of terrorism in Pakistan which includes suicide attacks in Lahore and Sehwan, resumed the debate on setting up military courts for speedy trial and conviction of terrorists.