Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentarians on Tuesday reached a consensus over the extension of military courts for two years.

The decision came in a parliamentary session, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, held on Tuesday. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) did not take part in the session.

Speaking to journalists after the parliamentary session, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the PPP has called an All Parties Conference (APC) on March 4. “No politics will be done on this particular issue,” Dar said.

The finance minister further said that a National Assembly session would be held on March 6 over the issue.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the country was going through extraordinary circumstances. He added that even though extension of military courts was not the best decision, they had agreed over its extension for two years.

“There should be no politics on terrorism,” he added.

Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmed Sherpao said that it was not a good decision to extend military courts again and again. “However one needs to do away with terrorism,” he said.

Jamat-e-Islami leader Sahibzada Tariqullah said, “Military courts are the need of time.”

Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rasheed said that his party was in favour of military courts.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan chief Dr Farooq Sattar expressed reservations over the decision and said that the present government had done nothing to improve the existing courts. He said he will express his reservations over the issue of military courts to the prime minister.