The deadlock on the military courts’ extension was removed, as parliamentary leaders from both the houses of parliament – the Senate and the National Assembly – reached a consensus on two-year extension. Following the consensus, the constitutional amendment bill will be tabled in the National Assembly. The voting on the bill will be held on Monday and after passage from the lower house of parliament, the bill will be tabled in the Senate on Tuesday for approval. Despite the consensus reached between the mainstream political parties, Jamaat-e-Islami and JUI-F had reservations about the clause concerning misuse of religion. The PPP’s four points – the accused will be produced before the court concerned within 24 hours, the accused will be informed about grounds of arrest within 24 hours, the accused will have right to lawyer of choice and provisions of Qanoon-e-Shahadat 1984 shall apply – will be part of the bill. Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that all the parliamentary parties had shown flexibility leading to consensus, as the country was in a state of war. He said the PPP’s four suggestions had been accepted while the PPP had also agreed to withdraw its other proposals. Sadiq said it was also decided to form the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on National Security comprising all the parliamentary leaders from both the houses of parliament. The resolution for the formation of the committee wouldalso be passed by the National Assembly on Monday and subsequently by the Senate on Tuesday. Aitzaz Ahsan said it was a case of give and take, as on some points the government had shown flexibility and they on others. Aitzaz said it was agreed that the accused will be produced before the court concerned and supplied with grounds of arrest within 24 hours. PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said all the political forces of the country had shown flexibility on the extension issue. He said the spirit of consensus was that any particular religious community will not be targeted. The war against terrorism is not likely to be won in two years time. Improving the legal system to make it efficient has never been among the PML-N’s priorities. Ayaz Sadiq has promised to form a National Security Committee comprising NA and Senate leaders to oversee military courts as well as other matters related to curbing terrorism. The consensus on the further extension of military courts for two years is good development. The country is facing unusual circumstances and war against terrorism has taken a decisive turn. The government and all political parties should extend full support to Pakistan army and other law enforcement agencies to eliminate the menace of terrorism forever. At the meantime steps should be taken for the reforms in judicial system and also measures should be taken to ensure efficient implementation on National Action Plan so that no need remained left for further extension after the expiry of the term. All political parties and nation should show unity in war against terrorism to deliver strong message to terrorists.
