Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: A joint meeting of parliamentary parties on Thursday failed to decide term of military courts.

The meeting was held in Parliament House with reference to extend military courts. All parties except the PPP attended the meeting. The meeting was presided over by National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

He said, “All parties have been invited and we will now see who comes and who does not come.”

The participants of the meeting condemned the bombing in DHA Lahore.

The opposition expressed wonder over persistent absence of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan from the meeting and declared him “lost” interior minister, saying his absence in this crucial meeting reflects lack of seriousness on his part.

Opposition parties rejected the new draft bill on military courts. The government has decided to appease the PPP and the speaker would talk to the PPP on this count.

Talking to media, Farooq Sattar of MQM said there is need to make a clear definition of terrorism.  “How many amendments have been introduced in the constitution so far were meant to eliminate terrorism. Terrorism is continuing all over the country and National Action Plan (NAP) was only a lollipop.”

“What the government has given to people is what we can say that only dust has been thrown in the eyes of people.”

“A committee on national security be constituted to review the performance of government on NAP and terrorism.  Government is calling us again to cover up its failure.”

He added that all provincial governments should be called and their performance with reference to terrorism should be reviewed.

“Provinces should be asked why they had not shown their performance for eradication of terrorism. Guarantee is needed for introducing amendment in the constitution. We will not extend unconditional support this time but it will be conditional.”

He added, “We want original bill this time. Provocative speeches and material are detrimental for country. Eliminating them is the need of hour. The courts proceedings in this respect should not go beyond one and a half year.”

“… Are Taliban not in Punjab? Had operation been conducted from first day in Punjab then situation would have been different therein.”