The major opposition political parties-Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F)-have decided not to support the government in extending the term of military courts.
Talking to Business Recorder, PPP Secretary General Farhatullah Babar said that the party would not support the government on the issue of extension of military courts, as there is no longer any need for these courts after the sharp decline in terror incidents.
"The incidents of terrorism have declined and, therefore, there is no justification for any further extension," he said.
Babar stated that the military courts were twice given an extension adding if terror incidents can not be controlled in four years, then the military courts would not be able to overcome the issue even in 40 years.
He added, 'military courts are a parallel judicial system and we must end it. There is a need to improve civilian judicial system through legislation. The government should take steps to improve the judicial system and the PPP party can support any legislation for this purpose," he said.
Babar said that when "extraordinary laws" implemented under "extraordinary circumstances" are extended, then after some time certain "vested interests" are created to protect such legislation. He cited the example of the Hudood Ordinance and others laws from Gen Ziaul Haq's era in this regard.
He said, "His party is opposing the military tribunals lest Pakistan's judiciary is "militarized" and the military becomes "judicialised". Such a situation would be very dangerous for the country".
Babar said that a "dangerous" nexus exists between military courts and missing persons in the country, adding that the tribunals were used to "justify" enforced disappearances on the pretext that cases against such (missing) persons were being heard by military courts.
"This is something which the PPP and its human rights agenda will never accept. The previous situation compelled us to support military courts. Now our stance is clear and we oppose the military courts," he maintained.
The military courts were allowed to try civilians accused of terrorism in January 2015, soon after a terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar in December 2014. In the attack, 144 people-mostly children-were killed by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. In 2017, the PPP initially opposed the extension in tenure but eventually supported the PML-N-moved amendment. The bill was passed overwhelmingly by the National Assembly.
Senior PML-N leader Senator Mushahidulalh Khan said that the government has not approached the party for any extension to military courts but added that the party is opposed to an extension as there is no need for such courts anymore.
"PML-N does not support its extension and the opposition alliance has been formed for the betterment of Pakistan and not against the ongoing accountability drive," he added.
Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of JUI-F told Business Recorder that it is the unanimous decision of all opposition parties not to support the government on extension to military courts.
He said that the civilian courts in the country should be strengthened, as ultimately the military courts are not a solution to the issue adding that the military courts did what they were supposed to do in four years, and now all the accused in terrorism charges should be tried in civil courts.