Another amendment for military courts unfortunate: Rabbani

Dar tells Senate decision taken in national interest

ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani said on Friday that an amendment in the Constitution once again for military courts was unfortunate.

Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Ishaq Dar told the Senate that the decision in this regard was taken in the larger national interest as the government would try to table the bill in the National Assembly by Monday on giving an extension to the military courts.

The minister conceded that the military courts were neither nor should be the priority of political parties as the extraordinary circumstances had left the nation with no other option but to go for a two-year extension to the military courts.

The bill to this effect, he noted, would most likely be presented in the National Assembly on Monday and would land in the Senate on Tuesday evening or Wednesday for approval.It is pertinent to mention here that the ongoing 260th Senate session was extended, which was expected to be prorogued on Friday last in view of the developments relating to the constitutional amendment related to the military courts.

The minister, however, emphasised, “We must ensure that the roadmap, including judicial reforms, be adhered to.” He said that along with the bill, the National Security Committee of Parliament would also be constituted on the basis of a resolution.

Taking advantage of what he called the very rare presence of Dar, Law Minister Zahid Hamid, Leader of the House Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq and Leader of the Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan in the House at one time, Rabbani said he had read in newspapers that political parties had agreed on a constitutional amendment on the military courts and that a parliamentary committee would oversee and furnish recommendations.

He recalled a similar pledge was made two years ago but he feared after another two years, they might again be faced with the same position at the end of sundown clause on military courts.

Rabbani noted that they might be faced with the same situation after two years they had confronted a couple of years ago, reminding how the Senate committee of the whole provided an alternative to the military courts through two pieces of legislation.

He added these were adopted by the Senate afterwards with consensus among all the political parties much before the end to the sundown clause but no headway could be made in the NA and wished these could have been converted into a working paper to move forward. “Had there been a headway, we might have not faced the current situation,” he argued.

Aitzaz Ahsan rose to say that they had agreed to the military courts again despite having reservations, which they had also in 2015, as they were assured of implementation on 20 points of the National Action Plan. He charged the record of the government was not very good regarding its commitments.

“But there had been no implementation at all of the 19 points. Had these been implemented, there would have been perhaps no need for a new constitutional amendment,” he believed.He said they were being stung again from where they were two years ago. Aitzaz added they trusted the government, which held out an assurance on creation of the parliamentary committee on national security.

“I want to bring it on record that the government promised to share the related document today on March 17 and want to again record that the sundown clause is again coming with an assurance that after two years, it would no more be required afresh,” he said.

Aitzaz explained that capabilities of individuals and the institutions would be enhanced in two years and the civilian institutions and judiciary would be taken to an extent that they would not invite the military courts in their own domain. “And this is the fundamental understanding with the government,” he said.