Military courts: Parliamentary parties to vote today

Parliamentary parties will vote today (Tuesday) in the National Assembly in favour of extension in tenure of military courts for a period of another two years despite expressing their reservations on the issue on the floor of the House.
Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid presented 'The Constitution (Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2017' and 'Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2017' separately in the Lower House of the Parliament for discussion and passage. The House also adopted the motion moved by the minister to suspend the business of private members' day on Tuesday and take the bills for passage.
The members of the parliamentary parties discussed the bills in the House and expressed their reservations over the military courts as well as the performance of the government regarding judicial reforms and implementation on the National Action Plan (ANP).
Syed Naveed Qamar of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) while speaking on the bills said, "It is shameful that today we have no trust in civil courts due to bad performance of the government." He said that the government could not fulfill its responsibilities during the two years of military courts. He said that establishing of military courts is a small step to curb terrorism in the country.
He said the government could not perform its responsibility regarding judicial reforms, National Action Plan and improvement in law and order. He said the government had also committed with the PPPP to set up an 'oversight parliamentary committee' before voting on the bills.
Law Minister Zahid Hamid said that a resolution would be moved for the constitution of the committee immediately after the passage of the bills. On it, Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Saddiq said that he takes the responsibility for constituting the committee. Shah Mehmood Qureshi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that the government has failed to bring reforms in judicial and legal system during two years. He said the government should form an oversight parliamentary committee to look into the matter about reforms and steps taken by the government to eliminate terrorism in the country.
Mahmood Khan Achakzai of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party said while expressing his reservations that he would conditionally support the bills. He said that first the both Houses should pass a resolution to declare those people as national heroes who opposed the martial laws in the past. Secondly, the government should announce a special package for the heirs of those people who sacrificed their lives for the restoration of democracy in the country, he added. He further said that thirdly military persons who committed mistakes should tender an apology and make commitment that such mistakes would not be repeated in future.
Sheikh Salahuddin of MQM said that his party also supports the establishment of military courts. He said there is also talk of the town that the government and PPPP have made some deal on the issue of military courts that is related about the cases of Sharjeel Inam Memon and Dr Asim. He said there should be no discrimination on matters which are pending in the courts.
The Speaker said that the MQM should not make the bills controversial by giving such statements. Sahibzada Tariqullah of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Sheikh Rashid Ahmad of Awami Muslim League also supported the bills for extension in tenure of military court for two years. The chair announced after the discussion that the process of voting on the bill will be held on Tuesday (today).