Senate takes suo motto notice of amended Army Act 1952
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights has taken suo-moto notice of the amended Army Act 1952 under PCO, which permits investigation and trial of civilians by the armed forces. The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights met at the Parliament House on Wednesday under the Chairmanship of Senator S. M. Zafar to discuss the issue of Military Courts under Army Act instead of a Civil Law.
In the meeting it was pointed out that Section 2 of the Army Act 1952 was amended through an Ordinance in 2007 and it was made a part of the Army Act under PCO, which permits the investigation and trial of civilians in respect to specific law such as Anti-Terrorism activities, Anti-National activities and a number of offences under the Panel Code by the Armed Forces and trial of civilians involved in those offences if committed in relation to security of Pakistan or Armed Forces of Pakistan by Court Martial.
The committee held discussions with regard to the scope of the law and its conflict with fundamental rights of the citizens. During in-camera discussion, members of the Committee expressed their apprehension and reservations on the law. During the meeting Mr. Ahmad Mukhtar, Federal Minister for Defense asked the Committee that he would reconsider the entire law in view of the discussion and would apprise the members in its next meeting on the issue.
Keeping in view the importance of the matter under discussion, the Committee decided to adjourn the proceeding till its next meeting. Senator S. M. Zafar expressed the hope that the Minister being member of a political party would be cautious of the need of the citizens and rights of the people.
He appreciated the Defence Minister and Secretary Ministry of Defence for taking keen interest in the discussion of the Committee and welcomed their goodwill gesture. The meeting was attended by Leader of the House in the Senate Senator Mian Raza Rabbani besides Senators Muhammad Ali Durrani, Saeed Ahmad Hashmi and Dr. Muhammad Said, Senior officials of the Ministries of Defence and Law & Justice.-SANA
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