The PPP on Friday rejected two separate bills pertaining to the reinstatement of military courts presented to parliament by the federal government.

The government had tabled the 28th Constitutional Amendment Bill and the Army Act Amendment Bill 2017 for input from all political parties.

On Thursday evening, the PPP had rubbished reports that the party had agreed to a two-year extension for military courts.

"The PPP totally and roundly rejects any statement purportedly issued by any official agency creating a false and erroneous impression of the PPP having agreed to the draft proposals of the government," read a statement released by PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar.

PPP Central Information Secretary Chaudhry Manzoor had also reiterated that the PPP would not let go of any of its own recommendations and will move its own amendments.

Under the Army Act Amendment Bill, special powers adopted by the military to try criminals will be extended for a period of two years.

Cases pending trial in military courts after their two-year tenure is over will be transferred to anti-terrorism courts, the bill states.

According to the bill, those waging war against the state, military installations, military forces, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, and citizens of Pakistan will be tried by military courts.

Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq had forwarded the draft bills to a committee of parliamentary leaders for deliberation.

"Parliamentary leaders will the finalise the drafts after deliberations and reaching a conclusion," the speaker said.

If the bill is approved, it will be implemented retrospectively from January 7, 2017.

"Reservations of all parties will be addressed and consensus will be reached," he added.

PTI stages walk out against Latif's comments

Representatives of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) walked out of the National Assembly (NA) in protest against lewd comments passed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentarian Javed Latif against the family of PTI lawmaker Murad Saeed.

PTI's protest was joined by the PPP, whose parliamentarians joined the walkout protest.

"The incidents that took place [yesterday] were unfortunate," PTI's Arif Alvi said while addressing the NA before the walkout.

Alvi also called for the suspension of Latif's membership of the assembly and urged female parliamentarians to support the PTI's stance on the matter.

A day earlier, a scuffle had broken out between Latif and Saeed at the main entrance to the Parliament after a session of the NA.

Footage of the incident showed Saeed attempting to assault Latif as the latter was leaving Parliament premises.

When asked about the reasons behind the scuffle, Saeed claimed that the PML-N parliamentarian had called his leader [Imran Khan] a traitor, which elicited a strong reaction from him.

Addressing the press hours after the scuffle broke out, Latif had worsened tensions between the two parties after he passed slanderous and distasteful remarks about Saeed's sisters.

Opinion

Editorial

Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....
Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...