ISLAMABAD: Government benches got straight shots from the opposition when the opposition vehemently questioned the government that why it wants to extend the military courts.
The most equivocal were two mainstream parties,Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) which opposed extension the of military courts during a consultative meeting of political parties’ parliamentary leaders in the National AssemblyNeo News reported.
Law Minister Zahid Hamid briefed the members of the meeting on the extension of military courts. The meeting, which was headed by NA speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, was attended by the parliamentary leaders of PPP, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), JUI-F, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-Pakistan) and Jamat-e-Islami (JI).
“Our viewpoint on military courts is still the same and we will not support the extension of such courts,” JUI-F leader Akram Durrani was quoted as saying.
Leader of the Opposition in NA Khursheed Shah said, “We would like to hear from the government what circumstances have prompted it to move for the extension and what alternatives are available.”
JI chief Sirajul Haq said his party believed in strengthening civilian courts instead of seeking military’s help to take hardcore terrorists to task. “However, if opposition parties put their weight behind military courts, JI will stand by parliamentary forces,” he said.
