PPPP disagrees with govt's proposals on military courts

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The spokesman of the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) said on Thursday that his party does not agree with the legislative proposals prepared by the government for the revival of military courts.

Rejecting the government's claim that the PPPP had agreed to two years' extension in the military courts' tenure, he said: "The PPPP totally and roundly rejects any statement purportedly issued by any official agency creating a false and erroneous impression of the PPP having agreed to the draft proposals of the government."

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq chaired a meeting today of parliamentary leaders which discussed the nine-point proposal of the PPPP regarding extension in the military courts' tenure.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced that there was consensus at the meeting on two-year tenure for the military courts and it was decided that the government would present the Constitutional Amendment Bill and Army Act Amendment Bill in the National Assembly.

He said the bill for establishment of military courts would be presented in the National Assembly on Friday. Dar claimed that the PPPP had withdrawn from its position on appointment of sessions or additional sessions judge in the military courts, adding that the suggestions already exist in the Constitution and other political parties have no objection to them.

The minister said that all members of Parliament have the right to bring up their amendments in the house for discussion of the legislation.

PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the media that demands of the PPPP about 1984s law of evidence and on right to appeal against military courts verdict were approved in the meeting, and the parties had agreed to the new draft. If a hurdle was created, the PML-N and PPPP would be responsible for any failure.

Earlier, Sheikh Rashid, expressing his disagreement with the PPP proposals, said that he backs his earlier stance of two years extension in the tenure of military courts.

MQM-Pakistan's Farooq Sattar called for revival of the previous draft on military courts. According to him, Ishaq Dar himself supported the earlier draft.

Among the other politicians attending the meeting were Aftab Sherpao, Shirin Mazari, Aitzaz Ahsan, Farooq H Naik, Azam Swati, Mushahid Hussain, Hasil Bizinjo, and Ghulam Ahmed Bilour.