ISLAMABAD: Although the government on Friday agreed to reduce the proposed term of military courts from three to two years, parliamentary parties could not reach consensus on whether to extend their jurisdiction to ‘religious groups’ and ‘sects’ or otherwise.

The government proposed a two-year term for the military courts in a meeting of parliamentary parties that remained inconclusive due to disagreement shown by opposition parties.

While the words “heinous and violent activities against the state” have been added to the proposed draft of the military courts bill, the government could not satisfy opposition parties — Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) — that demanded re-addition of words “using the name religious or sect” in the draft bill so that no one could commit terrorism in the name of religion.

The PPP called a multi-party conference on March 4 on the government’s move to amend Article 175(3) of the Constitution which had allowed the military courts to hold trial of persons “belonging to any terrorist group or organisation using the name of religion or a sect”.

Govt agrees to reduce tribunals term from three to two years

In the new draft, the government has removed the words “using the name of religion or sect”, creating fear among political parties that the law could be used against them for their “arm-twisting or political victimisation”.

Another meeting of the parliamentary parties will be chaired by the National Assembly speaker on Feb 28 in which the government will try to address concerns of opposition parties.

The committee deliberating on the constitutional amendment for military courts will have two more members: Barrister Saif of the MQM and Talha Mehmood of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

In the first meeting of the parliamentary committee held on Feb 17, the government handed over to parliamentary leaders a draft of its proposed constitution amendment bill seeking a three-year extension for military courts.

On Friday, the first meeting of the committee which lasted for an hour was presided over by the National Assembly speaker. The meeting of its sub-committee which was chaired by Law Minister Zahid Hamid lasted for four hours. In this meeting it was decided that leaders of parliamentary parties would be given the new draft of the bill so that they could discuss it with their party heads before coming for the next meeting.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, the law minister said that if all parliamentary parties agreed the term of military courts could be reduced to two years.

He said some of the words had been incorporated in the draft bill on the recommendations of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

The minister said a sentence of “heinous and violent activities against the state” has also been added in the draft bill. “The draft of the 23rd Constitution amendment will be sent to the parliamentary parties and all parliamentary leaders will give their final recommendations in the next meeting,” he said.

PPP leader Naveed Qamar said the government had agreed to reduce the proposed tenure of the military courts from three to two years. But, he added, his party would make a final decision on it after consultation with party’s co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

Talking to reporters, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that in wake of the fresh spate of terrorism incidents in the country revival of military court was the need of the hour.

The government, he said, had ag­­re­ed to the point of view of his party.

Meanwhile, PPP Secretary Gene­ral Farhatullah Babar told Dawn that the party would convene a multi-party conference on March 4. “We have given invitations to all parliamentary parties for the meeting,” he said.

Asked about the government’s decision to reduce the proposed term of military courts from three to two years, he said his party had not given any consent on this. “First we will see whether there is any need of revival of military courts in the country or not,” he added.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2017