Opposition Jirga visits Army Public School and residences of three martyrs

Peshawar: Ameer, Jamaat e Islami, Pakistan, Sirajul Haq, has said that the political parties had agreed to the federal government request for setting up of military courts to control terrorism in view of the security threats facing the country and for a limited period only.

Talking to the media after going around the Army Public School, Peshawar, along with other members of the Opposition Jirga including Rehman Malik, Hasil Bizenjo, etc, he however said the government had given an assurance that the accused presented before the military courts would be given full opportunity for defense and all steps to be adopted by the government be in accordance with the constitution and the law.

Sirajul Haq said that the setting up of military courts was not an ideal situation and it was not  something easy to accept this demand. However, he said, all political parties including the JI attending the APC had accepted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s request under compelling circumstances. He said the political parties’ leadership had been of the opinion that the situation could be tackled by providing all facilities to the civil courts beefing up their security and enhancing the number of the judicial officers. However, he said, that the terrorist attack at the Peshawar school called for quick response.

The JI chief said that the martyrdom of more than 150 innocent students and their teachers in the Peshawar tragedy had shaken the entire humanity and people all around felt its pain and grief.

However, he was hopeful that the year 2015 would be the year of peace in the country. He further said that the Peshawar was the city of bold and courageous people who had braved repeated attacks of terrorists.

Talking to newsmen on the occasion, Rehman Malik paid tributes to the leadership of JI chief. He said that Sirajul Haq was representing the people of Khyber P., at every forum. He said that at the APC presided over by the Prime Minister the JI chief had represented the Pakhtoons in the most appropriate manner. Balochistan National party chief Hasil Bizenjo, told newsmen on the occasion that all the political parties had joined hands against the menace of terrorism.

Later, the JI chief prayed for the martyrs of the Peshawar tragedy. The Jirga members also visited the residences of three martyrs at the Gulbahar colony, Ahmed Mujtaba, Huzaifa Aftab and Osama Zafar, and expressed their heartfelt grief to their parents. Touching scenes were witnessed on the occasion. The bereaved families demanded a high level, impartial enquiry into the Peshawar terrorist attack so that all involved in the massacre of the students were exposed and brought to justice.