Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan today briefed lawmakers in the National Assembly over the need and significance of military courts to root out the menace of terrorism from the country.
Speaking on the floor of National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar said that “Pakistan is faced with an extraordinary situation. Military courts are established during wartime or after the war, he said, adding military tribunals were set up even in the United States”.
“Although military courts under a democratic government is unusual, we are in a state of war since 12 years,” he stated. Terrorists, he said, don’t understand or accept any law.
“Even innocent children, women and elderly citizens are not spared by the terrorists. They even bombed funerals, mosques and minority worhip places,” he said.
Nowhere in the world, children and women were targeted under a plan. “In Quetta, Hazara Town was bombed, leaving more than 150 people dead,” Nisar said.
The interior minister dispelled impression that military courts would be misused. Our forces would have flattened Miranshah if they had any such plan, he explained. No politician or businessman would be tried under the military court, he clarified.
He said that space was created for military court under the existing judicial system. “Military courts will try only hardened terrorists. They will not be Kangaroo courts. Judges of the military courts will be Pakistanis. They are not a foreign army.”
“We suspended capital punishment of Shafaq Hussain after his case reached interior ministry. We have ordered an inquiry into his case.”
“Military court is just one small element of the war against terrorism. Parliament, federation, provincial government and Pakistan army are key pillars which have to play their role for the elimination of terrorism”. He added.
“We want peace. Terrorists want anarchy. They (terrorists) want to impose their ideology on gunpoint. We have chosen the path of peace and right.
There is no quick fix solution of the war against terrorism, he warned, adding that God forbid there could be more terror incidents.
Nisar said that the nation must not have any fear of terrorists. “God willing, we will confront the terrorists courageously and eliminate them.”
He commended political leaders for extending support to the government.
In today’s sessions, the legislators adjourned vote on 21st Constitutional Amendment Bill 2015 and Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2015 till tomorrow.
