The federal government has decided not to introduce any new amendment to address the reservations of some of its allies in parliament and has devised a legal strategy relating to military courts if the matter is taken up in the Supreme Court.
They said that the government, in backdoor talks with JUI-F and JI, offered assurances that terrorism-related cases will only be transferred to military courts after approval by civil authority. However, religio-political parties have insisted on bringing about something that they could use to placate their followers regarding the definition of terrorism.
The sources said the government has categorically refused to introduce a 22nd amendment to the Constitution to address their reservations and has urged the parties to wait and watch the proceedings of military courts.
They added that the JUI-F had expressed reservations to strike a good bargain as the party chief wanted due share in the upcoming senate election. Three out of six senators of the party were going to retire in March 15 including their secretary general Abdul Ghafoor Haidri. Fazl not only wanted to reelect some of his senators but also sought two extra seats beyond his party’s strength in the provincial assemblies of Balochisan and K-P.
They said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif met the JUI-F chief in the second week of January and gave him an assurance over his demands.
Regarding the JI, the sources termed its opposition a “political tactic” to avoid use of the courts against the party.
Parliament in the first week of January passed the 21st Constitutional Amendment Bill 2015 and Pakistan Army Act (Amendment) Bill 2015 unopposed to set up military courts in terrorism-related cases.
