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Musharraf sets up quasi-military courts

In a significant development, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday night promulgated an ordinance to establish quasi-military courts to try those accused in terrorism cases.

According to the Amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, Special Courts, which henceforth would be called Anti-Terrorism Courts, would comprise a judge nominated by a high court, a first class judicial magistrate and a military official of the Pakistan Army of the rank of lieutenant colonel, the ordinance said.

The three members shall together constitute an anti-terrorism court for trial of the scheduled offences under this ordinance. In case of difference of opinion amongst members of the court, majority decision shall prevail, the ordinance said.

The anti-terrorism court would function up to November this year, it said.

Another significant feature of the ordinance was that the joint probe teams to be constituted for investigations have to file reports within seven days of taking over cases.

The ordinance followed criticism that the special courts, comprising civil judicial officials, made little progress, as they were either corrupt or afraid of taking stern action against those charged with terrorism offences.

The military regime, which recently conducted a crackdown against terrorist outfits, believed that the presence of military officials on the judicial benches of the anti-terrorism courts could instil courage and order, it said.

The courts were expected to be specially effective in dealing with cases related to the banned sectarian outfits.

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