ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Tuesday said that Pak 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.
Speaking from the floor of National Assembly before and after the voting process that unanimously approved two bills – that of 21st amendment to the constitution and Army Act Amendment 2015 – for providing constitutional cover to the proposed military courts for speedy trials of terror suspects.
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, Imran Khan of PTI, Asfandyar Wali Khan of ANP, Mehmood Khan Achakzai PMAP and others leaders besides members of the Senate.
He said although the bills remained deprived of Maulana Fazl-ul-Rehman’s vote, yet it is comforting to see him sitting among us.
The Prime Minister said the move made with hand-in-hand will be the harbinger of elimination of the scourge of terrorism from the country.
He also directed to set in motion the steps to immediately implement the 20-point National Action Plan to counter terrorism.
He said today every Pakistani feels that army courts are the need of the hour and that these courts will be functional only for the period of two years.
Earlier, he said the bill was not moved by any single but it enjoyed the backing of the entire political leadership of the country.
Two bills adopted by the Parliament
The 21st Constitutional Amendment and Army Act Amendment 2015 were approved by the National Assembly and Senate today.
In the National Assembly the bills were approved unopposed as 247 members voted in favour of the laws.