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Key figures from Pakistan's political and military leadership on Monday agreed to reinstate military courts for a period all political parties can agree to.
The federal government initiated consultations to introduce a constitutional amendment to this effect, and will seek the consent of all political parties to have it passed.
The decision will be solidified if Parliament votes with a two-thirds majority in favour of the proposed amendment.
The decision to reinstate military courts was taken during a high-level huddle on Pakistan's internal and external security concerns chaired by PM Nawaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad.
Read more: The sun has set on Pakistan's military courts — here's why it should never rise again
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi, National Security Advisor retired Lt Gen Nasser Khan Janjua and other senior officials were present at the moot.
During the meeting, the participants discussed the security situation in detail, exchanging views on how to strengthen gains made through counter-terrorism operations in the country.
Speaking on the value of military courts, officials emphasised the role they had played in putting forth a consolidated effort to curb extremism and terrorism and helping the government draw tangible gains from Operation Zarb-i-Azb.
Officials also reiterated that Pakistan would follow a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and extremism to achieve internal stability and strengthen its foreign policy initiatives.
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On DawnNews
Comments (38) Closed
Jan 09, 2017 06:40pm
Why do we opt for adocism? What happened to the most important clause of NAP: To reform judiciary? Is it lack of political will to address the problem squarely?
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Jan 09, 2017 06:42pm
Federal Government should bring military courts back for terror suspects,
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Jan 09, 2017 06:45pm
IT IS IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST TO RE-INSTATE/REVIVE THE MILITARY COURTS.
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Jan 09, 2017 06:56pm
That means our normal Justice System is not delivering. Sad.
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Jan 09, 2017 07:05pm
Military courts have been successful in dispensing speedy justice to the terrorists, who are involved in killing people and destroying the country. Therefore, military courts should be reinstated until next elections in 2018.
The government should not worry about consent of "all" political parties, given their pettiness they never agree on anything. PM Nawaz Sharif must display leadership and good governance at this critical time of fast changing geo-political region.
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Jan 09, 2017 07:13pm
Constitution of Pakistan, Civil Rights and Due Process - RIP!
Why not let the Military run the entire country? The civilians haven't done a fabulous job anyway.
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Jan 09, 2017 07:28pm
Not a good idea, better to reform and strengthen the current judicial system.
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Jan 09, 2017 07:27pm
We need military courts
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Jan 09, 2017 07:35pm
This will drag us in more worst situation in long way .We as a whole nation always want quick results and we never ask ourself what we were doing when the AUTOCRAT sowing the seeds. Just imagine how deep the roots are in decade.
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Jan 09, 2017 07:40pm
Military courts are not the solutions. Pakistan need to support provinces to de-politicize the police force, train investigators and give them autonomy to the job properly. Military courts are not for a democracy. Its mockery of justice system.
Terrorism cannot be controlled by the military, its job of the society as a whole. Military is to protect the frontiers
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Jan 09, 2017 07:44pm
Unless the much needed reform to the Judicial system is not completed, Pakistan must continue with military courts.
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Jan 09, 2017 08:08pm
@Hamaad AGREE 100%.
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Jan 09, 2017 08:10pm
could someone please explain what business does a finance minister have in discussions around national security or setting up military courts?.........hello hello mr.dar.......focus where your presence is needed the most......economic issues.
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Jan 09, 2017 08:20pm
PMLN government is determined to drag Pakistan back into anarchy and unrest. still no action taken by ch Nisar to demolish the qadri shrine which is set to become terrorist networks headquarters.
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Jan 09, 2017 08:23pm
Good,perfect,excellent move,forces trusted for betterment of pakistan.
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Jan 09, 2017 08:22pm
@Yawar yes,no doubt.
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Jan 09, 2017 08:33pm
Military Courts were the need of time to curb terrorism, which was on high rise and its threat still persist. The courts delivered speedy verdicts in the case of hardcore criminals, which sent a wave of terror amongst terrorists and there was a considerable decrease in the cases of terrorism in 2016, which no doubt was the result of various other military actions, including the establishment of military courts. The ordinary people of Pakistan, except a handful of human right activists, are in favor of continuing with the Military Courts, till such time, terrorism is rooted out from the soil of Pakistan.
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Jan 09, 2017 08:29pm
We need them badly. It is a strong deterrent for the extremism and Talibzation of this country.
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Jan 09, 2017 08:38pm
I hope Nawaz Sharif is not playing any games in this case. It is amazing that these consultations are being done after the expiration. I guess, if NS was serious, he would have consulted and done his home work before expiry date to keep the process moving without interruption.
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Jan 09, 2017 08:47pm
Why government wakes up at the eleventh hour. Didn't they know the tenure date of military courts beforehand? This always happens with Sindh government too which takes more time to extend rangers stay in Sindh. Both (Nawaz Shairf's and Zardari's) corrupt governments deliberately do that. Is there anyone to eliminate corrupt politicians from Pakistan???
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Jan 09, 2017 08:49pm
Military courts must be back, If this nation wants to defeat terrorism.
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Jan 09, 2017 08:57pm
@Asim nehal You are right.
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Jan 09, 2017 08:59pm
Military courts must be brought back before its too late. We must never forget the Peshawar school massacre of 2014.
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Jan 09, 2017 08:59pm
Reinstate military courts. They are much needed to punish the terrorists. If they are reinstated it will be positive for PML N Govt.
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Jan 09, 2017 09:06pm
Thumbs up
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Jan 09, 2017 09:23pm
We want Military Courts to be enacted for next 5 years so that terrorists could be brought to books without any political intervention.
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Jan 09, 2017 09:26pm
Military courts should continue
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Jan 09, 2017 09:27pm
Excellent move by PMLN. Well done PMLN and Army.
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Jan 09, 2017 09:32pm
Minus military court, terrorists will go on rampage once again.
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Jan 09, 2017 10:24pm
Good move. Bring the Military Courts back in service, this is the ONLY way to eliminate the evil terrorism. So all political parties must agree unanimously to pass the resolution in favor of Military Courts.
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Jan 09, 2017 10:59pm
Rather than strengthening the civilian law enforcement and the judiciary, the leadership is opting for quick fixes. A very wrong decision in the long-run. People who are saying that this is a necessity are obviously convinced that no one close to them will ever get picked up by LEAs. A transparent process that is perceived as fair by the majority of the people, is extremely essential for the proper functioning of the civil society.
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Jan 09, 2017 11:55pm
It will be prudent to extend the military courts so that the country does not loose on the benefits of improved law and order restoration.However at the same time the leadership should also focus on lack of progress on reforms that were promised as part of National Action Plan.Military courts is not the long term solution but an exercise in adhocism that will not take us far in nation building
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Jan 10, 2017 12:31am
Military court is a big deterrent in Pakistan, it should continue to protect innocent peoples from falling prey to terrorists.
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Jan 10, 2017 01:07am
Not good.
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Jan 10, 2017 01:22am
Good step
It is very important for Pakistan
Only way to get rid of terrorism and bring peace in the country
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Jan 10, 2017 01:21am
Nonsense, its not military job.
Where is IK, and Zardarri?
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Jan 10, 2017 03:41am
I don't understand why they let it lapse in the first place. I am sure there are smarter people than me in government, but it escapes me why mess with something that is working.
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Jan 10, 2017 05:20am
What is this drama going on in this country? Didnt the govt know the courts tenure was up. So why they did not bring it in assembly first. All of these people are joking with the country pml n ppp and as well as mr self roghteous imraaab khaaan sb. They are all incompetent megalomaniacs. Something bad is smelling something foul and this time its not going to be as mild as PTI parties pn the street
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