Summary Cases to be heard in military courts, the bill will allow keeping the accused in custody for 90 days
ISLAMABAD: (Daily Dunya) – Government has decided to unite Tahaffuz-e-Pakistan and anti-terror acts to fight terrorism while the National Assembly’s standing committee for interior affairs has approved the amendment bill 2014 to increase punishment for robbery, stealing and other crimes. It also approved the amendment bill 2016 for curbing the illegal occupation of land, reported Dunya News.
The only differential note was submitted by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Chairman of the committee and MQM’s Salman Mujahid Baloch had a verbal brawl at the session and the two exchanged harsh words as well.
According to the details, the session was presided over by Rana Shamim Ahmad Khan. Interior Ministry spokesperson told that the bill had been prepared to unite the anti-terror act and Tahaffuz-e-Pakistan Bill and it was being consulted upon with the ministry of law. He told that the new bill also discussed the tenure of the military courts.
The tenure for the military courts is going to end on January 7, after which all the cases being heard in these courts would automatically be transferred to the anti-terror courts. He told that 300 cases had been sent to the military courts and 120 among them were still being heard. According to the proposed law, all the terror related cases will only be sent to military courts.
The proposed bill will allow the military courts to keep the suspects in custody for 90 days. According to sources, the new law will not be time-barred.
The 2014 Amendment Bill will increase the jail sentence for stealing from three years to five years while the bail amount for cheque fraud has been doubled from the cheque amount. Interior Secretary Arif Khan told that the recommendations had been prepared for the issuance of weapons’ license. “We will try to provide licenses to those who required them. The decision will have been made by January”, he said. He told that police could not act in case it found licensed weapons during the search from a car. “Licensed weapons can be kept in the car”, he said.
Earlier, MQM leader Salman Mujahid Baloch said to the chairman of the committee for not allowing him to speak that ‘you don’t know me’. Rana Shamim told him to be careful before threatening him because ‘you don’t know me either’.
