Islamabad: The legal cover given to military courts in Pakistan to try civilian terrorism suspects will expire on January 7.
The legal cover was given under the 21st Constitution Amendment Bill and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2015 having a two-year sunset clause on January 6 last year which was subsequently accorded an assent by the president.
Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani at the outset of the proceedings of the house yesterday invited the attention of the government towards the expiry of the 21st amendment on January 7. He observed that action was needed to avoid a legal vacuum. He said the Senate had already passed the anti-terrorism bill and the witness protection bill to fill the gap. The two bills piloted by the leader of the house and the leader of the opposition have already been sent to the National Assembly.
He said the Senate had fulfilled its responsibility and it was now for the National Assembly to pass the bills. Leader of the House Raja Mohammad ZafarulHaq was not present when the remarks were made and the chairman repeated his words when Haq arrived later. “This bill is about military courts trying hardcore terrorists who kill Pakistanis this is an important day for Pakistan when the nation decided that terrorists will be taken out from the roots,”
Prime Minister had told the joint session of parliament at the passage of the laws to constitutionally protect the military courts for the trial of civilians suspected of terrorism in January 2015. The preambles to both bills were largely identical. They said extraordinary situation and circumstances demanded “special measures for speedy trial of certain offences relating to terrorism, waging of war or insurrection against Pakistan” and the prevention of acts threatening the country’s security by “any terrorist or terrorist group using the name of religion or a sect and members of such armed groups, wings and militias.”
