KARACHI: Disposal of cases by military courts has helped reduce terrorists’ activities in the country.

Inter-Services Public Relations, the military’s public affairs wing, said on Sunday that military courts were established through a constitutional amendment in an environment of heightened terrorism.

The judicial system was under stress as judicial set-ups and judges were subjected to acts of terrorism. Therefore, it said, special constitutional arrangements were made to effectively check terrorist activities.

During their validity, 274 cases were referred to the military courts, in which 161 accused were awarded death sentences (12 executed) and 113 awarded imprisonment of varying duration.

The cases were dealt through due process of law. The disposal through military courts yielded positive effects towards reduction in terrorist activities, the ISPR said, adding that military courts ceased to function on expiry of their mandated period.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2017