Military courts will help stamp out terrorism from country: PM
* Nawaz says nation should have determination not to be at ease till elimination of last terrorist * Raza Rabbani in tears after voting in favour of military courts
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the military courts would help eliminate terrorism from the country.
Speaking after the passage of 21st Constitutional Amendment, Nawaz Sharif thanked all political parties for extending their support to the bill, allowing the trial of terrorists through special courts headed by army officers. He vowed to wipe out terrorism from the country with the combined effort of all political parties. The PM said passage of the legislation is vital to bringing peace back in the country. He said the legislation does not belong to any specific party rather it is backed by all political parties. He said the move will help to curb terrorism in the country.
Quoting leader of the opposition in the Senate, Aitzaz Ahsan, the prime minister said, “He (Aitzaz Ahsan) has better understanding of legislation than me and he knows that constitutional amendment and amendment in Army Act will be effective in trying the hardcore terrorists.” Nawaz also expressed confidence that the 20-point National Plan of Action against terrorism would help restore durable peace in the country. The PM said “this is an important day for Pakistan when the nation has decided that terrorists will be taken out from the roots”.
“Through this bill, we can overcome the last 60 years of unrest which should have ended years ago,” he said. The prime minister also expressed desire for a conciliatory approach with political parties that did not vote in favour of the bill in the National Assembly. “The parties that were in disagreement of this law, we understood their point of view and tried our best to address their reservations and their point of view was also accommodated. Therefore if they could not vote for it at the National Assembly I would urge them to vote for it in the Senate,” he said. The provisions of the Act shall remain in force for a period of two years from the date of its commencement.
“We should have the determination not to be at ease till the elimination of last terrorist from our country,” the PM said. He said that army remained part of the consultative process in connection with the establishment of military courts and that the government will decide which cases to be referred to these courts for trials. He said Pakistan’s elected leadership made the decision to adopt extraordinary measures. The premier expressed his gratitude to the national leadership, including Asif Ali Zardari of PPP, Altaf Hussain of MQM and Imran Khan of PTI. PPP’s Senator Raza Rabbani was in tears after voting on the 21st Constitutional Amendment. He said that he voted on the amendment against his own conscience and said that he had never felt more ashamed in his life.
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