ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain gave his ceremonial assent on Wednesday to the 21st Constitution Amendment bill providing constitutional cover to military courts which will try civilian terror suspects.

The 21st amendment has become a part of the constitution after the presidential assent which came within 24 hours of its passage by both houses of parliament, according to an official announcement of the Presidency.

The announcement does not say if the president has also signed the bill to amend the Army Act which also was passed by the National Assembly and Senate on Tuesday.

Under Article 75 of the Constitution, the president is required to either give his assent to a bill within 10 days of its approval by the two houses of parliament or send it back to parliament for reconsideration or suggesting any specified amendment.

The presidential assent is just a formality as under the constitution, the law passed by the two houses of parliament with a majority is deemed to have been approved by the president even if he does not do so within 10 days.

Meanwhile, talking to a delegation of All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association (APCEA), President Mamnoon Hussain expressed the hope that the amendment passed by the parliament to fight terrorism would help resolve the country’s problems and restore peace in tribal areas.

“Since terrorists’ reform is impossible, therefore, the only way to improve the situation is to eliminate them completely,” the president said while talking to the delegation headed by Senator Haji Ghulam Ali of JUI-F.

The president urged the people to fully support the government and the army in the ongoing war on terror.

He said the government was trying to restore peace in tribal areas to encourage investment, development and business activities there.

Published in Dawn January 8th , 2014

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