ISLAMABAD: The Senate today [Dec 17] completed the first reading of the Suppression of Terrorist Activities (Special Court) Bill, providing for the establishment of Special Courts for speedy trial of offences pertaining to acts of sabotage, subversion and terrorism. .. PPP Senator Sher Mohammad Khan stressed the need for the law in order to curb outrageous activities. He said certain elements who had opposed the creation of Pakistan and had still not reconciled to it had been inciting some youth to violence which had resulted in loss of property and killing of innocent citizens. Ordinary courts of law … were already overburdened. … It was, therefore, essential to set up Special Courts. … Earlier Khawaja Mohammad Safdar (CML) criticised the Bill. He argued that there was no need for a new law.

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Washington,] the [US] Senate yesterday [Dec 16] approved a 3,000 million dollar military construction appropriations Bill, cutting funds for a controversial military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. The … Defence Department claims [the base] is essential to counter increasing Soviet influence in the Indian Ocean area.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2024