Draft amendments for trying terrorists presented to Sharif

Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif (in pic) was on Saturday presented with the first draft of constitutional and legal amendments for trial of hardcore terrorists and enemy combatants as he ordered the activation of a dormant anti-terror body to fight the menace. The prime minister chaired a meeting of the committee to oversee the implementation of the counter-terrorism National Action Plan, which was worked out two days ago with the consensus of mainstream political parties to tackle militancy.

During on Saturday’s meeting, the first draft of constitutional and legal amendments for the trial of enemy combatants and hardcore terrorists involved in execution, abetting and financing of mass murders was presented to the Prime minister, Dawn News reported. The draft was presented by a legal team, along with minister for planning and development Ahsan Iqbal, finance minister Ishaq Dar, special assistant to PM Khawaja Zaheer and federal law secretary Barrister Zafarullah.

Sharif directed the legal team to share the draft with other political parties for their inputs. “We will legally protect our soldiers in their fight against terrorists,” Sharif told the meeting. The prime minister also directed that instances of terrorism or sectarian violence against minorities should also be included in the schedule of offences against terrorists. “We want to make the country a safer place for every Pakistani regardless of the individual’s faith or ethnicity,” he said.