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Pakistani politicians up ante over army's secret courts
Bloomberg | Updated: Jan 28, 2017, 02.37 PM IST
HIGHLIGHTS
Pakistan's army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
ISLAMABAD: After army hearings ordered the execution of more than 100 terrorism suspects in the past two years, some Pakistani politicians are pushing back against the opaque courts in a rare sign of backbone against the nation's powerful military. The courts were set up about a month after Pakistani Taliban massacred more than 100 schoolchildren in December 2014.
The military's closed door proceedings have drawn ire from human rights organisations and admiration for swift rulings in a country where civilian courts are clogged. Investors have also noted Pakistan's improved security since a militant crackdown. However, Pakistan's army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, appointed in November, is facing off emboldened politicians in a bid to continue the secret court.
As their mandate expired earlier this month, the government has yet to commit to an extension and opposition politicians openly object to it. The tussle will likely increase strains between the two branches of power in the nuclear-armed nation.
The military said earlier this month the courts have "yielded positive effects" and Bajwa's predecessor, retired General Raheel Sharif, told a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week that they had stopped insurgents.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-armys-secret-courts/articleshow/56830137.cms
Bloomberg | Updated: Jan 28, 2017, 02.37 PM IST
HIGHLIGHTS
- Army's secret courts were set up after Taliban killed over 100 schoolchildren in 2014.
- But, mandate to run these courts expired earlier this month.
- Pakistani government is yet to grant an extension to army's secret courts.
ISLAMABAD: After army hearings ordered the execution of more than 100 terrorism suspects in the past two years, some Pakistani politicians are pushing back against the opaque courts in a rare sign of backbone against the nation's powerful military. The courts were set up about a month after Pakistani Taliban massacred more than 100 schoolchildren in December 2014.
The military's closed door proceedings have drawn ire from human rights organisations and admiration for swift rulings in a country where civilian courts are clogged. Investors have also noted Pakistan's improved security since a militant crackdown. However, Pakistan's army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, appointed in November, is facing off emboldened politicians in a bid to continue the secret court.
As their mandate expired earlier this month, the government has yet to commit to an extension and opposition politicians openly object to it. The tussle will likely increase strains between the two branches of power in the nuclear-armed nation.
The military said earlier this month the courts have "yielded positive effects" and Bajwa's predecessor, retired General Raheel Sharif, told a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week that they had stopped insurgents.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-armys-secret-courts/articleshow/56830137.cms
