ISLAMABAD: Opposition parliamentary parties have opposed extension of the tenure of military courts and sought a briefing from the government about achievements of military courts and implementation of the National Action Plan. The opposition claimed that the government has been isolated in the case of military courts as its allies were also not supporting it. A meeting of parliamentary parties was held in Islamabad on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
Syed Khursheed Shah said the opposition unanimously demanded that the government should honour its promises made at the All Parties Conference. He said they were told at that time that the situation was abnormal and they wanted the government to brief them about the present situation including implementation of NAP and elimination of terrorism.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi was of the opinion that the government itself was not clear about its proposal for extension. He said they have put forward five questions to the government to answer about the performance of military courts in two years, implementation of NAP, performance of Anti Terrorism courts , a briefing on national security and blue print of the plan to move ahead for the elimination of terrorism.
He said the government had promised for the reconstitution of national security committee and it must honour that commitment. He said the law minister admitted that maximum punishments to terrorists were given in Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa. To a question, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said their opposition would not affect the operation Zarb e Azb.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Sahabzada Tariq Ullah said they opposed constitutional amendments for formation of military courts in the past and there is no change in their position.
The meeting was adjourned till January 17th without achieving any consensus. The opposition parties briefed the law minister about their reservations.
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and the participants listened to point of view of others with patience.
INP