KARACHI: The legal fraternity opposed on Monday the proposed setting up of military courts to tackle terrorism cases and asked the government to strengthen the anti-terrorism courts instead.

Criticising the government, representatives of the lawyers said the menace of terrorism could not be uprooted by setting up military courts, adding that such courts set up in the past were struck down by the Supreme Court.

Speaking at a general body meeting of the Karachi Bar Association held at the City Courts, they said the government was paving the way for another military adventure.

Newly-elected president of the KBA Naeem Qureshi said they opposed the army’s ‘takeover of the judiciary’ and alleged that the military was being commercialised, adding that it was the prime responsibility of the armed forces to block the entry of foreign terrorists into the country.

The KBA chief said the government’s decision to set up military courts was aimed at paving the way for a military adventure as such courts had been instrumental in rolling back the democratic system in the past.

The government must pay due attention to the anti-terrorism courts to achieve good results as currently a number of retried and ageing judges were working at the ATCs, which was a clear violation of Supreme Court orders. Besides, he said, proper security was not being provided to ATC judges, lawyers and witnesses.

Outgoing president of the KBA Salahuddin Ahmed said military courts were no solution to tackle terrorism since a judicial system was in place in the country, and the armed forces must focus on their prime duty of defending the homeland.

He also asked the new body of the KBA to consult other bar associations to chalk out a future course of action against the proposed military courts.

Former prosecutor general of Sindh and senior lawyer Shahadat Awan said the apex court had declared military courts unconstitutional in the past and sent all the cases to the ATCs.

The Supreme Court had also laid down guidelines for the ATCs, he said, and added that though the ATCs were yet to achieve the desired goals, the government should strengthen those courts for speedy dispensation of justice.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2014