National Assembly Adopts Amendments in Constitution Army Act

The National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed 21st Constitutional Amendment Bill 2015 and Army Amendment Bill 2015, allowing setting up of military courts for a period of two years to try hardcore terrorists, Media reported.

National Assembly

In the house, 245 members voted in favour of the motion for amendment in the Constitution, whereas not a single member rose against the motion.

Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq put the bill for clause-wise voting.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) did not take part in the voting owing to their reservations over the legislation.

The lower house of the Parliament later adopted Pakistan Army (amendment) Bill 2015 to amend Army Act 1952 with majority, allowing establishment of special military courts to overcome terrorism.

Following approval of the bills in the National Assembly, the bills will be tabled in Senate which is also expected to pass the amendment bills with a two-third majority.

The government and army have ramped up their anti-terror strategy in the wake of December 16 attack on army-run school in Peshawar which killed 150 people, 134 of them children.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced the establishment of military courts for terror-related cases in order to accelerate trials, and the premier has also lifted a six-year moratorium on the death penalty, reinstating it for terrorism-related cases.