Military courts: Dar works towards developing consensus

In the wake of recent terrorist attacks, the government has contacted the parliamentary leaders of the political parties seeking their nod for extension in the tenure of military courts. Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar has conversed with the parliamentary leaders over telephone and discussed with them the extension in the tenure of the military courts for speedy trial of terrorists.
"Dar wants the matter to be resolved at the earliest," said an official, adding that the next meeting of the parliamentary leaders on the issue of military courts is scheduled for February 27. The sub-committee formed to review the relevant draft law would meet on February 22. The legal cover given to the military courts to try accused of terrorism expired on January 7, 2016.
The finance minister contacted Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Maulana Attaur Rahman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl), Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) leader Syed Naveed Qamar, Shah Mehmood Qureshi of Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao. During his telephonic calls, the minister emphasised the need for complete consensus on the issue. He told them that an urgent decision on the extension in tenure of military courts is critical to counter the fresh wave of militancy that has gripped the country for the last few days.
Referring to recent terror incidents in FATA, Peshawar, Lahore, Quetta, Awaran, and Sehwan Sharif, Ishaq Dar said that it is heartbreaking to see so many precious lives being lost in gory incidents of terror across Pakistan. He said that an effective and well-co-ordinated response on part of the federal and provincial governments is need of the hour.
Finance minister said the continuation of the military courts is essential to ensure incessant momentum of anti-terrorism campaign and the political leadership in the Parliament needs to show unity as well as complete unanimity of views on this issue. He asserted that there can be no compromise on the safety and security of the people and the country.
The parliamentary leaders agreed with the notion of the minister that a well-co-ordinated and appropriate response needed against the terror threat. Earlier, Dar also made a phone call to the Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, urging him to facilitate early convening of the meeting of the parliamentary committee on the subject of military courts so that a concrete decision in the matter could be taken as early as possible.