Military courts' term ends as stalemate prevails between govt, opposition

The two-year term of the military courts has expired on January 6, 2019, and the constitutional amendment required for another extension could not be passed yet amid rifts among major political parties and the prevailing uncertain political scenario in the country.

However, the PTI has planned to pass a constitutional amendment in the Pakistan and the Army Act, 1952, which requires a two-thirds majority in both the lower and upper house of the parliament.

This implies that no new cases can be lodged with the military courts, however the courts do possess mandate to complete the ongoing cases.

The military courts were initially established under the Constitution (Twenty- First Amendment) Act, 2015, after massacre of schoolchildren in Peshawar on December 16 in 2014 as a part of eradicating the growing tide of militancy and terrorism in the country, and for trying terrorists attached with militant outfits using the name of religion or sect.

Moreover on January 2, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice was told that the ministry of law had received a summary from the ministry of interior for giving an extension to the military courts.

Subsequently, the ministry of law referred the summary to the federal cabinet for approval, however it requires a two-third majority for amendment.

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