News @ 3 - 21st March 2017

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly will continue its debate on 28th Constitutional Amendment to extend the tenure of the military courts, ARY News reported.

The lower house session beginning at 4:00 p.m. today will hold voting on the constitutional legislation after conclusion of the debate.

The Twenty-Eight amendment bill aims to restore of military courts.

While Pakistan Army Amendment bill, aimed at enabling trial of cases related to terrorism under Pakistan Army Act 1952, will also be passed today.

Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid presented both bills in National Assembly on March 10, 2017. However, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) had concerns and reservations on extension of the military courts.

Consequently, after consensus formed on extension of military courts among political parties, the bill was put to vote.

Speaking on the first reading of the bill Shaikh Rashid Ahmad of Awami Muslim League, Syed Naveed Qamar of PPP and Shah Mahmood Qureshi of PTI extended support to the bill conditionally and urged the government to fulfill its commitments regarding fair trial, formation of parliament’s national security committee and reforms in the judicial system.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s Mahmood Khan Achakzai, an ally of the government, however, opposed the bill.