Pakistan to set up military courts in PoK to try terrorists

Pakistan on Monday decided to set up military courts in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan for the speedy trial of terrorists in a meeting held here to review the implementation of anti-terror National Action Plan (NAP).

The high-level meeting, chaired by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, approved that Gilgit-Baltistan and the Councils in Pakistan occupied Kashmir would adopt the 21st Constitutional Amendment as well as the Amendment in the Army Act 1952 to facilitate formation of military courts in these areas.

In the meeting, Sharif was briefed on legislative and administrative measures as well as the progress on sub-committees regarding implementation of the NAP adopted after the Peshawar school attack. The Prime Minister said all steps necessary are being taken to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan's soil.

"There is no room for terrorism or terrorists in our society, and government is determined not to be at ease till the elimination of the last terrorist from our country," he said. The Prime Minister was informed that since December 23 last year in Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory, 164 cases have been registered for use of hate speech and materials while 157 persons have been arrested.

About 40 printing presses and shops have also been sealed. On the misuse of mosque loudspeakers, 1994 cases have been registered and 1,088 persons have been arrested.

Sharif is supervising progress on the holistic and speedy implementation of the NAP and in the next few days another meeting would be called to review progress on all the 20 points of the action plan.