The government on Friday has failed once again to garner support of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on the proposed draft to revive special military courts for trying civilians charged with terrorism, potentially jeopardising a proposed constitutional amendment.
The PPPP ended the boycott of the parliamentary committee headed by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq after it was assured that no amendment will be made without addressing the reservations of other political parties, especially the opposition parties.
After no consensus was developed, the speaker referred the matter to the sub-committee headed by Law Minister Zahid Hamid to discuss the issue so that the reservations of all political parties could be addressed. In the meeting chaired by Zahid Hamid, the government agreed to revise the 3-year period for military courts down to 2 years. "If all parties agree, military courts can be revived for a period of 2 years instead of 3], but we are still making efforts to finalise the draft as soon as possible," said the law minister.
However, the opposition was not immediately forthcoming with an agreement, as Naveed Qamar of the PPPP said that the proposal will be presented before the senior party leadership for its approval. "The PPPP has made it clear to the government that an all parties' conference (APC) should be convened to discuss the issue of military courts and constitutional amendments proposed by the government," he maintained. To a question, Naveed Qamar said that his party attended the meeting on assurance of the government, adding that they will support the issue after removal of their reservations.
"The final decision about extension in the tenure of military courts would be taken by the party leadership," he added.
In the revision process, the government also added clauses to put anti-state activities within the purview of military courts. "Anti-state activities and violent acts against the state have been included in our proposal," the law minister agreed. "The proposed amendments, along with a bill regarding necessary amendments to the Pakistan Army Act, will be sent to parliamentary leaders," he said, adding, "The parliamentary leaders will present their views on these issues in the February 28 session of the Parliament after consulting with their party leaders."
The opposition parties basically have objections to the government's move to amend Article 175(3) of the Constitution which has allowed the military courts to hold trial of persons "belonging to any terrorist group or organisation using the name of religion or a sect." In the new draft, the government has removed the words "using the name of religion or sect," creating apprehensions among political parties that the law could be used against them for political victimisation.
Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq constituted a sub-committee to deliberate on constitutional amendment about military courts on Friday. Talking to a group of reporters after chairing the meeting of parliamentary leaders on the matter of extension in the tenure of military courts, the speaker NA said the sub-committee would evolve a consensus on the constitutional amendment about military courts. Sadiq said the sub-committee had been expanded further with induction of Senator Saifullah Magsi and Senator Talha Mahmood.
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