"If it is a strategy on the part of the PPP to strike a deal with somebody, it may work but we are sure the PPP will eventually support the extension of military courts for two years", stated Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal to Business Recorder, with an obvious reference to soured relations of the PPP with the establishment.
He underscored the importance of military courts as a deterrent to terrorists, saying that a speedy disposal of terror cases will go a long way in curbing the menace of militancy in the country. Iqbal pointed out that all political parties except the PPP had already agreed to proceed with the military courts, adding that their reservations, if there are any, will be addressed.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Senator Shibli Faraz told Business Recorder that the PPP was playing politics on the revival of the courts as it wanted to keep the pressure on the government through its majority in the Upper House. "Asif Zardari is trying to cash in on the situation and wants to use his party's majority in the Senate as a bargaining chip to extract some benefits from the government," he said.
Faraz said that if the government failed to evolve a consensus on the issue, it will be left with no option but to convene a joint sitting of Parliament to get the constitutional amendment passed. Defence analyst General Talat Masood (Retd) blamed both opposition and the government for the inordinate delay in reviving the military courts on one pretext or another, saying that both missed the opportunity to strengthen civilian courts to try militants and hardcore criminals.
"They did nothing to pass special laws for protection of judges or witnesses during the last two years when military courts were functional," he said, adding that if the government and the opposition failed to develop consensus, this will ultimately benefit the militants. He, however, admitted that the military courts are no solution to the problem and suggested the government to legislate to improve the criminal justice system and security of the judges and lawyers dealing with cases of the militants. The law allowing military to try civilians on terrorism charges expired on January 7 this year and since then the government has been trying to evolve a consensus to extend the courts for another two years.