ISLAMABAD – Senate on Tuesday approved the Twenty Eighth Amendment Bill, 2017, for the revival of the military courts for yet another two years.
All the parties, except for the government ally PkMAP supported the bill. The JUI-F, opted to abstain from voting.
The Senate resumed its session for further discussion on “The Constitution (Twenty-eighth Amendment) Bill, 2017” which was tabled by Law Minister Zahid Hamid.
Taking part in the discussion, Sardar Azam Khan Musakhel opposed the bill and said that by extending military courts, democratic parties were empowering dictatorship in the country.
Sitara Ayaz said that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was the worst hit by terrorism and that is why her party was going to support this bill to end the scourge from the country.
On March 21, the National Assembly had approved the 28th amendment to Constitution of Pakistan paving the way for the extension of military courts.
Law Minister Zahid Hamid had presented the Pakistan Army Act Amendment Bill, 2017 in the Assembly for approval where 253 members voted in favour of the motion while four opposed the motion thereby showing two-third majority.
