Military courts not an ideal opton, however, given the circumstances, we had no other option, but to resort to this, In the meantime, hoping and praying that government works on rooting out influence of terror networks from the judicary system, especially LHC known for letting out convicted terrorists. That being said, What about the criminal silence of PTI, JI and JUIF? These three parties abstained from voting in favor of military courts. While JI and JUIF decision to abstain from voting does not surprises me, PTI pro- terrorism stance is fully exposed now. By refusing to vote, in effect they voted againt against Pakistan. As they author says at the end, if tragedy of Peshawar failed to change their stance on terrorism, nothing will.
Brilliant article on the criminal silence of PTI, JI and JUIF.
FRIENDS FOREVER!
The National Assembly successfully adapted the 21st Amendment Bill for consideration with the required 2/3rd majority on Tuesday. JUI-F, JI and PTI abstained from the vote, and they may have been congratulated for doing so if they had acted out of their desire to preserve democratic ideals. But of course, that is not the case here.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has consistently maintained a pro-terrorism stance. PTI Chairman, Imran Khan, who rarely pulls any punches before political opponents, has always struggled to name and shame terrorists. Until a few months ago, he was inviting the TTP to open an office and described them as “liberators” engaged in a war against the imperial US. While the party has had to back off from its damaging stance following the Peshawar incident and now claims to support the 21st amendment, it still could not find the time to show up and vote in its favour. The move may also have to do with maintaining pressure on the government by refusing to attend parliamentary sessions. Whether it is love for the TTP or hate for the government which kept the PTI out of the parliament on Tuesday, **it says a lot about a party which acts with such duplicity when it comes to national issues such as terrorism.
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That the JUI-F and the JI abstained doesn’t surprise anyone. Ideologically, they have far more in common with the TTP than the people they routinely murder. They have continued to act as a political front for the TTP and friends, providing justifications for their attacks on military personnel and citizens, obfuscating issues and shielding terrorists from action. JI has a rich history of jihad, and has also had the honour of providing al-Qaeda members and other terrorists.
Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman appears extremely concerned about the fate of religious seminaries. He fears that they may be targeted. It is hoped that they will be. Maulana raised a very valid question during Tuesday’s session: do terrorists come from madrassas? Investigations reveal that they do. TTP’s leadership, including Baitullah Mehsud and Hakeemullah Mehsud, has received madrassa eduction. The long list of high-profile terrorists as well as foot soldiers and their education, rather indoctrination, at religious seminaries ought to be made available to Fazl-ur-Rehman. The fact is that seminaries are also a lucrative business for the likes of Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman.
Even if ideological leanings were disregarded, a move against seminaries will have financial consequences. PTI, JUI-F and JI do not stand with democracy or military courts. **They stand with terrorists and their vested interests. If the Peshawar tragedy has failed to run them around, nothing **will. The rest of the parliament should not waste its time seeking consensus from those who were, are and will remain the problem. JUI-F may fuss all it likes over terminology, it is “religious” terrorism and extremism that the country is fighting against as they remain standing on the wrong side.