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The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Friday expressed serious alarm over the decision to set up military courts to try terror suspects and has termed it against the law and constitution.
“The commission is dismayed that all political parties supported this unfortunate decision, although some had earlier expressed reservations. HRCP has a number of concerns over this move," chairperson of the commission Zohra Yusuf said in a statement.
Examine: Military courts: How the reluctant were brought round
“Firstly, the decision undermines the judiciary and shows lack of confidence in an independent and strong judicial system in the country," Yusuf said.
She feared that political dissidents, particularly in Balochistan and Sindh, could become targets of military courts.
“HRCP believes that there is a need to reform and strengthen the system of investigation and prosecution," she said.
"The hasty decision is all the more questionable as the Supreme Court itself is attempting to expedite cases of terrorism,” she said.
Earlier on Wednesday, a meeting of parliamentary leaders at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad reached a consensus over the issue of setting up military courts for tackling terrorism cases in the country.
Take a look: Political leaders reach consensus on military courts
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On DawnNews
Comments (41) Closed
Dec 26, 2014 04:43pm
Where was the so called HRCP when our schools, mosques, church's are bombed? Our army is being attacked/killed by these terrorists?
It also makes me laugh when i read "strong judicial system in the country"!
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Dec 26, 2014 04:50pm
Amnesty International and HRCP, just go away from our land!
We will do whatever it takes to save our country! Military courts or martial law or death sentences. Are you listening???
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Dec 26, 2014 04:52pm
Heading in the wrong direction. One mans' ego is going to destroy everything that was built in the past 5-6 years. Allow time instead of comparing Pakistan to other well established democracies. Keep army out.
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Dec 26, 2014 04:55pm
Under "parliamentary sovereignty" the parliament can take any decision including curtailing the powers of the judiciary.
Next stop should be to investigate the NGOs. All NGOs including HRCP should be streamlined and registered by the government and their accounts prepared transparently and submitted annually. The NGOs need to be held to accountability.
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Dec 26, 2014 05:01pm
The members of HRCP should take these terrorists to their homes as their honerable guests and serve them as VVIPs. It appears that they don't care about the rights of victoms, they are only interested in the rights of these terrorist.
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Dec 26, 2014 05:07pm
Decision to set up Military courts undermines the judiciary HRCP ! which judiciary they are talking about, the same judiciary, which released over 24000 terrorists, the same judiciary which shied away to hear the cases of renowned terrorists like Malik Ishaq and released him to kill more innocent people ?
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Dec 26, 2014 05:14pm
How does setting up military court undermines judiciary in any way? This is just a plublicity and attention seeking stunt.
The "democratic" legal system has not even convicted one terrorist to date. It is a joke.
If Pakistan is to survive, we need to take tough decisions that will benefit pakistanis for a change
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Dec 26, 2014 05:14pm
Civil courts do not punish culprits but they accord bail to criminals. Is this according to law?
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Dec 26, 2014 05:19pm
There is not "Ideal" solution to anything, but Military courts are needed to deliver the justice that our Highest court has so often delayed.
I would ask HRCP to bring to attention any petty criminals and non-terrorists brought before the military courts. Anti national forces must be eliminated, regardless of political affiliation or support
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Dec 26, 2014 05:20pm
Suggest HRCP opens their eyes to reality in the country.
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Dec 26, 2014 05:21pm
Of course,judiciary has not been delivering any thing for 10 years. so military courts are coming in action. I am sure everyone , who loves this country and wants peace , would appreciate military courts.
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Dec 26, 2014 05:25pm
First of all our Judicial system is not independent at all and it is not strong at all in fact, it is the weakest and probably the most corrupt. Furthermore common man has ZERO confidence in it, I have no clue why are you so concerned against it rather than the transparency of it is something you should be more focused upon, if it wasn't for the above reasons we would also oppose it but we'd welcome it with open arms given the recent incidents due to terrorist attacks.
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Dec 26, 2014 05:26pm
So be it. We don't need coward judiciary. Courts are afraid to make bold decision.
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Dec 26, 2014 06:07pm
Terrorists need to be delt in strongest possible manner. I wonder what does the Human right mean to these organizations! The M. Courts are need of the hour.
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Dec 26, 2014 06:08pm
The Whole Nation is okay with undermining judiciary than losing more innocent lives instead. If a judicial system and law doesn't guarantee protection of its citizens then I wonder if people are for judiciary or judiciary is for the people? We are in a state of war and ordinary things just wouldn't work.
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Dec 26, 2014 06:21pm
Military courts trying civilian citizens in their own land is as far from civil liberty as one can get.
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Dec 26, 2014 06:25pm
What kind of HRCP is this which never speaks when children are brutally murdered.Shutdown such organisations
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Dec 26, 2014 06:33pm
Not true - the civilian judicial system undermined itself by not providing justice to innocents in Pakistan
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Dec 26, 2014 06:56pm
Media should not cover these organizations who speak against the national consensus.
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Dec 26, 2014 07:13pm
The same institution that has nurtured the terrorists and is now suffering the blow-back of it's own failed policies has now become judge, jury and executioner. Pakistan is as far away from being a democratic state as one can imagine. Nawaz Sharif is a lame duck PM, the generals are firmly in charge. Let the show trials and miscarriages of justice begin.
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Dec 26, 2014 07:21pm
Judiciary had all the time to prove that they are bold enough to tackle terrorist case, they failed the nation and now whole nation is facing this killing spree. Judiciary lost the face now let the Military courts to handle these cases, where politicians and so called Ulema don't have any influence.
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Dec 26, 2014 07:22pm
It is the weakness of the judiciary in the first place that lead to this.
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Dec 26, 2014 07:23pm
The problem is that the courts have been able to provide timely justice to common citizens. Moreover, because of the loopholes in the legal system criminals get released, which is hurting the country badly.
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Dec 26, 2014 07:45pm
These terrorists do not have any rights after killing so many children. So HRCP please keep quite and let do security forces do their noble job.
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Dec 26, 2014 07:48pm
@HRCP
Now it is the law of the land
Action taken by the so called representative of the people - the Parliament rubber stamped for a limited period of time not an open ended law.
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Dec 26, 2014 10:07pm
HRCP though mostly right, is wrong this time. Military courts are essential to punish the terrorists and rid the country of this trash. Civilian courts have no back bone and get threatened by the terrorists or their well wishers too easy.
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Dec 26, 2014 11:10pm
It would have undermined the judiciary.....if the judiciary had functioned as a judiciary should.
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Dec 26, 2014 11:17pm
did these HRCP sofa-sitting pundits ever dare to ask Talibans about violating human rights ?
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Dec 26, 2014 11:25pm
It's true that running courts is not the Army's job. Sadly, the judiciary, who's job it is, are not doing anything. The Supreme Court is not expediting anything: Taseer and Danny Pearl's murderers still have decisions pending. It was great when the Pakistani public staged a long march to free the judiciary. When will the free judiciary pay back the duty they owe the people? It's wrong and sad that the Army has to step in and take over other departments' duties to anything done but what is the alternative? Wait for another 130 children to die before the Supreme Court catches up?
The fact is, politicians judiciary etc are all too scared that if they take a decision, they will be targeted. No one wants to stick their precious neck out. It's not their kids that died.
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Dec 26, 2014 11:43pm
HRCP just keep your mouth shut please.
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Dec 27, 2014 12:44am
HRCP conveniently ignores reality that most civilian courts are incapable of dealing with arrested terrorists, as shown by overwhelming number (almost all) released due to lack of evidence/intimidated whitnesses/terrified judges!
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Dec 27, 2014 12:56am
Such groups do not see things in the long-term.Like a child who has remembered a few things,they present their narrow views.Do they not comprehend the weaknesses of our conventional judicial system?Who will speak up against the savage militants as witness,who wil assure the guard of the judges and witnesses and prosecutors.This all is possible merely in army courts.
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Dec 27, 2014 01:11am
"The decision shows a lack of confidence in a strong and independent judicial system"
HRCP please show me the strong and independent judicial system and show full confidence in it.
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Dec 27, 2014 01:40am
When the going gets tough only military can deliver. HRCP should remember rights of mothers whose children have been killed or disabled over the years by terrorists action and complete civilian governments inaction.
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Dec 27, 2014 02:39am
HRCP Please leave us with fruitless reports and condemnation, it is totally outdated , let the govt and army do what is best for country
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Dec 27, 2014 03:09am
@Ganga Din if the law of necessity was ever the need its NOW
the majority of Pakistan is united on military playing their greater role to kill the inside enemy
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Dec 27, 2014 03:12am
@Aziz I would agree with you because when HRCP is suspicious of all our depts then they are also part of the same region
their statement is wrong and made at s totally wrong time
it looks the statement is made by Sindh CM
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Dec 27, 2014 06:17am
HRCP should adopt these terrorist and take them out of Pakistan so they can have better human rights! what a pathetic rights activists who like the criminals to stay alive and free while killing so many people. Pakistan certainly dont need them, HRCP is so concerned then they can find a home for them with help of their financial sponsors from abroad!
enough said!
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Dec 27, 2014 06:47am
What judiciary?
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Dec 27, 2014 08:23am
The Judicial system of Pakistan does not dispense justice but is a tool for the law breakers to use it to escape justice by delaying decisions for decades. This depressing judiciary is the cause of people taking Justice in their own hands.
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Dec 27, 2014 08:25am
@Ganga Din well established democracies do not openly honestly declare their acts but use brutal army to occupy.
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