ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentarians on Tuesday expressed mixed opinions about the decision of the Army to trial the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protestors in military courts for desecrating the military installations and memorials of the Armed Forces’ martyrs.
Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that the violent and blatant attack on the military installations and its residences justified allowing the government to trial the PTI protestors in the military courts.
He said that when army installations and memorials will be attacked and ransacked, then it is forced to take action. Just like Article 209, the army and other institutions have constitutional provisions to protect their sanctity and honour.
Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians MNA Syed Ali Musa Gilani said that the cases against a political party’s supporters should not be held in military courts in a democracy.
He said that these cases should be heard in the civil courts whereas those identified other than the political workers should be held accountable as per law in the military courts.
PTI MNA Nasir Musazai said that the protestors should be charged as per Army Act who attacked Corps Commander’s House in Lahore and Balahisar Fort which was equal to enmity with the country.
Opinion on talks
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Javaid Latif said that “PTI had been proved as a terrorist organisation after the attacks on the important sensitive state installations”, adding there was no room to hold negotiations with the terrorists.
However, Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Shazia Sobia said the PDM government, especially her party PPPP had always offered to talk about charter of democracy and economy to PTI chief Imran Khan. However, “he lacked confidence to hold negotiations and throughout his political career, he never acted as a politician”, she commented.
