ISLAMABAD – Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday has said that the military courts would not be used to hold trials of civilians, politicians and madarris (religious institutions) and that only terrorism-related cases would be tried in the military courts.
He expressed these views in a press conference in Islamabad. He said that terrorism would be rooted out of the country. Only terrorism-related cases would be tried in the military courts, he added.
The minister said that national leadership had agreed to implement the National Action plan effectively to end terrorism in Pakistan through collaboration of federal and provincial securities agencies and military courts and better intelligence sharing, while citizens can also cooperate with LEAs using helpline 1717.
It has been advised that national security emergency should be imposed for as many as two years, he added. Nisar said that the implementation of the National Action Plan is underway. The federal minister also urged the Station House Officers (SHOs) to keep an eye on the people entering and exiting their limits. It is not correct to say that the intelligence system of Pakistan is bogus, he added.
Nisar said that the federal government shared sensitive information and intelligence with the provincial governments. The security of the provinces is the responsibility of the provincial governments, he added.
While talking about the establishment of the army courts, he said that these courts have their proper law and these are not kangaroo courts. Terrorists want that the political leadership of the country develops differences of opinions on various matters. The minister also said that after terrorists are caught they threaten the lawyers and the judges. Military courts would follow a set standard and operating procedure for the trial of terrorists. More than 250 terrorists have been arrested, he added. Various different rumours have been spread out against madarris (religious institutions). These institutions are not the centres of extremists as the operations of the majority of such institutions are satisfactory.
The Interior Minister said that the provincial governments did not take required measures within the limited time frame after they got the intelligence reports from the federal government. Loud speaker usage for any other activity but call for prayer and imam-e-masjid’s address would be banned.
Moreover, he urged the media to support the government in this cause and not broadcast or disseminate threats by the banned outfits. Chaudhry Nisar said that the people must make sure that they are giving charity to the right and deserving organisation. He said that terrorists are also being funded by foreign countries and they have contacted other countries regarding the matter.
As many as 60 banned organisations are working under different names in the country, he added. The minister said that the funding of all the banned outfits would be cut off. Nisar said that the cases of the 60 banned organizations which are functioning under different names would be sent to the special courts.
Afghan Muhajireen must be present in the camps and not in the cities. They have been living in Pakistan for as many as 15 years, he added. Nisar Ali Khan said that the people of the country are the actual guardians of the country and they must inform the authorities concerned of any suspicious person. The record regarding the residing places of muhajireen has been started to be maintained. The government is taking steps to end the raising of voice of terrorists on social media, he added. The minister said that the stability and protection of the country is government’s top priority. Only the madarris against whom the law enforcement agencies have proofs would be investigated, he added.
The military courts would only hold trials of terrorists who are involved in crimes against the state. Chaudhry Nisar said that delivering provocative speeches and the dissemination of such material in any form have been banned by the government.
