Military courts to be set up in Pakistan to try militants

ISLAMABAD: Special military courts will be set up in Pakistan to hear terrorism-related cases in the wake of massacre of 150 people, mostly children, at a school in Peshawar by Talibans last week.

The decision was taken at a marathon meeting yesterday of mainstream political parties chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who said the move would help ensure "terrorists pay the price" for their "heinous acts".

The meeting, which lasted for nearly 11 hours, was called to formulate a plan to deal with militancy after the Taliban attack on the army school in Peshawar on December 16.

A government official said that the leaders agreed to set up special military courts for two years with a clear mandate to try the cases of militants.

These courts will be staffed by the military officers and will hold fast trials.

After the meeting, PPP leader Khursheed Shah told media that constitution would be amended to create military courts for limited period.

Among others, the meeting was attended by leaders of Pakistan Thereek-i-Insaf party, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Qaumi Watan Party, Balochistan National Party and some smaller groups.