Pakistan military courts term expire amid lack of consensus to grant extension

Fate of terrorists’ trials before special military courts hangs in balance because the courts mandate expired today on Monday and there is no consensus in parliament to extend their term.

Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that for over four years, said arrangement was in place to help the government curb terror attacks. He recalled that the courts were re-introduced under special circumstances to fight terrorism.
In 2015, military trials for terror suspects were introduced and a moratorium on the death penalty was also lifted after a Taliban attack the year before on a school in Peshawar killed more than 150 people, mostly young students.
The military courts decided 478 cases and sentenced 284 to death; 192 were sentenced to various prison terms, minister said, adding that now regular courts would again begin hear terrorism cases as usual.