The matter of extending powers of military courts to try civilian terrorists has been made a big issue and is being needlessly dragged while renewal of this authority is urgently required in view of increased terrorist attacks.Close to a dozen marathon sessions have so far been held under the chairmanship of the speaker but a final outcome is yet to emerge, resolving the matter once and for all, matching the emergency.Further delay in arriving at an agreement is not sending a forceful message to terrorists, who deserve punishment equal to the magnitude of their crimes against humanity.However, the amicable speaker continues to exude confidence for an early accord among the parliamentary players and believes that the forthcoming Feb 28 meeting of parliamentary groups will be decisive leading to the desired result.The PPP’s plan to host an All Parties Conference (APC) doesn’t sound convincing. It is pointless because all the parliamentary forces form an APC when they get together and discuss the matter in question with the speaker presiding over the affair. Only the PPP can tell what different and distinct result does it want to achieve by holding an APC of its own. It means nothing except to search for its relevance and an attempt to take political mileage. The political parties will highlight their same respective stands in the APC that they project during meetings with the speaker.Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is all set to throw its weight behind Pakistan Peoples Party to hold an all parties conference on the issue of extending the tenure of military courts.The PPP would formally invite PTI in a couple of days, not later than Tuesday, while Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid has already accepted the invitation.Pakistan Muslim League-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said that the PML-Q will participate in the All Parties Conference (APC) convened by Pakistan People’s Party on military courts extension issue.He said the PML-Q was taking this step in the interest of the country and the nation and would continue doing so in future as well wherever required. He said this in the press briefing after meeting with a PPP delegation. Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer, Senator Sirajul Haq, said that a national consensus was required for the revival of the military courts but the government itself seemed to be undecided on the issue so far. He was talking to the media at a reception hosted in his honour by former MPA Syed Ehsanullah Waqqas.Sirajul Haq said that till now, the government had neither consulted the political parties on the issue nor taken them into confidence in this regard.The government should take necessary measures to streamline the civil judicial system, for the security of the judges and the courts and also overcome the weaknesses wherever found. The prevailing deadlock on the military courts is not in the interest of the country. All political parties should prefer national interest instead of advancing their vested interests. The government should remove the reservations of all political parties and should try to build consensus as soon as possible. Otherwise terrorists may get benefits from the situation.
