Zardari announces proposals for military courts extension
islamabad — Former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Monday announced his party’s nine recommendations for an extension in the operation of military courts, reports Dawn online.
Military courts had been disbanded this year on January 7 after a sunset clause under which the tribunals were established expired. No consensus was reached between the government and the opposition on an extension in their tenure despite frequent meetings on the issue.
On February 28, however, the majority of the political parties in power consented to an extension for another two years. The meeting, however, was not attended by leaders of the PPP, who had earlier called a multi-party conference on March 4 to discuss the matter with other politicians.
Addressing a Press conference in Islamabad, Zardari clarified that his party is “providing recommendations [for], not opposing [an extension in] military courts.”
“We want a law that defines terrorists, that will become a definition for terrorism,” he added. “Our aim is not to dishearten our armed forces.”
The former president said his party intended to present the points for parliamentary discussion eventually.
“I hope all political forces are present for this parliamentary discussion. We are open to dialogue [on the points], whether with the government or the army,” he said.
He added that the party had provided one year’s time to assess the law, and that the PPP intended to pressure the government to strengthen witness protection in Sindh and disburse funds to the provinces and judiciary for more effective implementation of the National Action Plan. “I think there are weaknesses [in NAP] because the government is not serious and they have not provided them the funds,” he claimed. —