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Don’t lose consensus against terror to smaller issues: army
* COAS says key to success lies in all institutions joining hands for prompt implementation of a comprehensive national action plan without losing any further timeBy Sardar Sikander Shaheen
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Thursday stressed unity among all the state institutions for “an effective and prompt implementation of a comprehensive National Action Plan”, while the corps commanders hoped that the much-needed and “precious wider political consensus achieved against terrorism is not lost to smaller issues”.
This year’s maiden and otherwise 178th Corps Commanders Conference with General Raheel in chair reviewed the security measures in the specific context of Pakistan Army’s counterterrorism drive in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and its intelligence-based targeted operations underway across the country in coordination with the army’s intelligence arm, paramilitary forces and the local law enforcement agencies. According to security officials, the upcoming formation of the special trial courts or military courts in the FATA was figured high in the commanders’ meet-up.
Reportedly, the army command presently awaits the federal government’s initiative to provide the required legal cover to the formation of military courts using legal and constitutional options, not been done, so far. “The homework is complete. As soon as the legalities are fulfilled, the military courts would be in effect within no time,” claimed a security official involved in a counterterrorism assignment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, on the condition of anonymity.
Each military court, Daily Times has learnt, is to be headed by a brigadier-ranked officer and would comprise of other army officers not below the rank of lieutenant colonel. These courts be working under the administrative ambit of Field General Court Martial (FGCM) and they would be supervised by the Adjutant General (AG) and Judge Advocate General (JAG) branches that would directly report to the General Headquarters (GHQ).
“The entire nation is looking towards political and military leadership of the country to take bold and meaningful decisions leading to stern action against terrorists and their sympathisers,” Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) quoted the army chief as saying in the commanders’ moot. He appreciated the resolve of the national political leadership shown during the All-Parties Conference, it said. “Key lies in all institutions joining hands for an effective and prompt implementation of a comprehensive National Action Plan without having to lose any further time,” Raheel Sharif emphasised.
The corps commanders, the ISPR said, hoped that the “much-wanted and precious wider political consensus achieved against terrorism is not lost to smaller issues”. The COAS also reviewed the homework done by all concerned for execution of their respective assigned tasks listed in the National Action Plan and directed them to follow strict timelines. Reports suggest that the federal government is mulling over broadening the scope of the special trial courts either from the platform of parliament or through necessary amendments in the Army Act 1952 to put to trial terrorists involved in all kinds of terrorism including political violence. A Karachi-based political party, several alleged members of whose militant wing are on death row, vehemently opposes the military courts formation.
Gen Raheel Sharif said that entire nation was looking towards political and military leadership of the country to take bold and meaningful decisions leading to stern action against terrorists and their sympathizers. The participants of the corps commanders conference hoped that much wanted and precious wider political consensus achieved against terrorism in All Parties Conference is not lost to smaller issues. The COAS emphasized that the key lies in all institutions joining hands for an effective and prompt implementation of a comprehensive National Action Plan without losing any further time.
The participants of the conference expressed grief over tragic loss of innocent lives in Peshawar terrorist attack, solidarity with bereaved families and resolved not to stop operation till elimination of last terrorist from our soil.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk