PML-Q, three other parties present nine points on military courts

Shujaat says unanimous points to be presented in NA, Senate; extension of military courts should not be made an issue

LAHORE: Nine points regarding military courts have been presented after a meeting of four parties alliance held at the residence of PML-Q President and former Prime Minister Ch Shujaat Hussain.

The meeting was attended by PML-Q central leader Ch Parvaiz Elahi, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Sahibzada Hamid Raza of Sunni Ittehad Council, Nasir Sherazi of Majlis Wahdatul Musalmeen and other leaders.

The nine points were announced to the media wherein it had been stated that 1) military courts be given two years extension, 2) terrorism should be defined and explained and debate be held in the parliament in this regard, 3) it should be clarified in the law that no political party and its worker will be victimized in the light of proposed amendments 4) public protest against price hike, governance, load shedding, law and order, unemployment and extra-democratic steps of the government and difference of opinion of political parties and protest against local administration will not be considered anti-state and terrorism acts, 5) all the stages from verdicts of the military courts to decision on the appeals should be completed in a fixed shortest possible period, 6) proposed amendments should not affect political workers' expression of views against the government and freedom of media, 7) accused should have right to engage lawyers of their choice, 8) all major incidents of terrorism, including Model Town tragedy, Sehwan Sharif, Quetta High Court incident, Gulshan Iqbal Park, Lahore, Jamia Naeemia, Alamdar Road, Quetta, Shikarpur incident in which people became victims be taken up first in the military courts as a test case, 9) for check and balance on the cases sent to the military courts, a parliamentary committee be set up in which all parliamentary parties be given representation.

Replying to questions from the journalists, Ch Shujaat Hussain and other leaders said that the matter regarding extension of military courts should not be made an issue.

Replying to a question about inclusion of session judges and law of evidence, they said summary trial would not be possible in this manner, objective of establishing military courts was army summary trial of terrorism cases because it was not possible to convict the culprits under ordinary laws and for this, laws had been amended in many countries, including the USA.

Ch Shujaat Hussain said that the unanimous points of the four parties would be presented in the Senate by Senator Kamil Ali Agha and in the National Assembly by MNA Tariq Bashir Cheema. 

Replying to another question, he said that political parties were being taken into confidence regarding future scenario. He said change would come in the country only when 'Fasad' ended.