Military courts tenure: SCBA president opposes extension

Expressing his reservations over extension in tenure of military courts in the country on Thursday, President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Rashid A Rizvi termed the extension against the norms of administration of justice. Talking to Press Association of Supreme Court, Rashid A Rizvi said that without strengthening prosecution, the intelligence and investigating agencies present a spate of terrorism and extremism that cannot be controlled, adding that only cosmetic conviction awarded by the military courts cannot resolve the issue.
Urging upon all stakeholders of the country to resists the extension of military courts on the grounds that the same doesn't provide an opportunity for fair and transparent trial to the accused persons, Rizvi maintained that the past experience of 1992 regarding establishing military courts had witnessed failures in achieving the required results.
Terming strong possibilities of denial of due process of law in the military courts, Rizvi said that such courts deny the right of an appeal to the accused persons.
Rizvi was of the view that a convicted person should at least be given a chance to appeal to the relevant forum, saying an appeal is filed with the Chief of Army Staff and after its rejection the accused person is hanged on the very next day which, he termed, is an injustice with the accused persons. The president SCBA further said that any court of law is required to wait for the disposal of an appeal.
Rizvi said while criticising the federal interior minister that after the brutal happening of terrorism in Quetta, Prime Minister Sharif and chief ministers paid visits to the targeted places to extend their sympathies to the heirs of the victims, but it is astounding that the federal interior minister who is supposed to take measures to eliminate terrorism, has not visited the province so far.
Rizvi questioned how it would be possible to control the menace of terrorism for the concerned authorities who apparently have failed to control the situation at 7 to 8 kilometres long Saryab Road in Quetta. "Yes, it would be a best example if the decision-makers concentrate on introducing reforms to improve the judicial system in the country," President SCBA Rashid A Rizvi said while responding to a question.