(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Provincial home departments after vetting suspected terrorists will send their cases to the interior ministry googletag.
Islamabad — Around 3400 suspected terrorists are likely to be sent for trial in military courts being set up under the newly-adopted 21st Amendment to the constitution the Express Tribune reported on Thursday.
“Cases of around 3000 suspected ‘jet black terrorists’ arrested during the military operations in Swat South and North Waziristan agencies and 300 to 400 terror suspects being tried at anti-terrorism courts in the provinces will be sent to the military courts” the paper quoted a senior government official as saying.
Provincial home departments after vetting suspected terrorists will send their cases to the interior ministry — the final authority to decide whether a case will be sent to a military court or the courts established under the Protection of Pakistan Act (PPA) said the official.
“The military courts that will operate under the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Branch of the Pakistan Army will most likely start working after two weeks” he added.
The constitutional amendment to set up military courts was proposed at an all-party meeting also attended by top military leadership amid apprehensions that civilian judges were reluctant to hear or sentence terrorists because of dire threats. Meanwhile officials engaged with the legal process said the provincial apex committees comprising both military and civilian officials have started sending cases of suspected terrorists to the interior ministry.
Meanwhile a senior army official said that the JAG Branch will send cases of ‘jet black terrorists’ to the formation commander who will constitute the military courts.
“A military court is usually headed by a colonel and two majors assist him while a law officer of the JAG advises the court” he added. He said there is no specific number for proposed military courts yet. “But yes on the JAG recommendations these courts will be formed in no time.”
For more news from Khaleej Times follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes and on Twitter at khaleejtimes
Follow khaleejtimes ->
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.