Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATC) on Friday will take up the responsibility of overseeing cases against civilians, being tried on terrorism charges, from the military courts as they will expire at midnight.

From January 07, the 21st constitutional amendment, which had paved the way for the military courts for two years, will become ineffective.

“Two years ago, with the consensus of all the political parties, the military courts were set up. But, any extension is not being considered,”Interior Minister ChaurdhryNisar Ali Khan said. He said that ATC, after the expiry of the military courts, would take up all such cases.

Peshawar Army Public School massacre ignited the creation of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. The president gave his assent to the amendment on January 7, 2015. The amendment had an expiry clause, which causes the amendment to expire on January 7, 2017.

The military courts – part of the National Action Plan – were meant to provide a solution for any extraordinary problem.