Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Tuesday approved an increase in the number of military courts for Karachi to handle outstanding terror cases. General Sharif took the decision while chairing the security briefing at Corps V Headquarters. He was also briefed on the current security situation of the city. The chief of army staff also directed all concerned authorities to continue the security operation across the board, and break the nexus that exists between terrorism, criminal mafias and corruption to ensure peace and prosperity in the commercial hub of the country. Speedy trial of the terrorists and others involved in heinous crimes is a key to peace and security in Karachi as in the past known criminals went scot free due to non-commitment of the political leadership, political expediencies, lack of proper investigations and inaction by police and moribund system of dispensation of justice. These factors encouraged criminals, anti-social and anti-state elements to continue with their misdeeds and the situation in Karachi worsened with the passage of every day. In this backdrop, the Government, the political leadership and Pakistan Army agreed on one point to start operation and set up military courts for speedy trial of the criminals and terrorists. These courts have tried a number of cases and many others are being heard by them but in view of the number of those apprehended from Karachi on charges that require trial in military courts, there was a need to increase the number of these courts. Therefore, the decision of the Army Chief to increase their number is a welcome development and would send discouraging signals to terrorists that there is no room for them to go away with their dastardly acts. The military courts are doing their job but it has been felt that the routine judicial system is somewhat scuttling the process by way of suspensions of the punishments and delays in disposals of appeals. It should be kept in mind that neither do the military courts operate in void, nor do the Presiding officers of these courts have any personal vendetta against any one. The cases are referred to them after thorough inquiry and appraisal and the courts follow due process of law and decide the cases on the basis of available evidence. We, therefore, hope that the normal judicial system would complement the working of the military courts, to achieve the targets laid down under the National Action Plan for speedy administration of justice.
pk.shafaqna.com
