Peshawar victims’ parents hail verdict on military courts

Peshawar: The parents of students killed in the December 2014 terror attack on a school in Pakistan's Peshawar city have hailed the Supreme Court's verdict favouring the establishment of military courts.

The parents said that the historic decision is the outcome of the sacrifices rendered by their innocent children, the students of Army Public School in Peshawar, who were killed by terrorists on December 16, 2014, Dawn reported on Thursday.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday rejected all applications challenging the constitutional amendments, ruling in favour of the establishment of military courts in the country.

However, the parents also said that their children would not have been killed if the government had taken timely action against terrorists.

They demanded from the government and Pakistan Army to share with them and the people of the country the details of crimes committed by those being tried in the military courts and the nature of punishment awarded to them.

"Such military courts should have been established 10 years ago for awarding an exemplary punishment to terrorists," said Ajoon Khan, who is the general secretary of Ghazi Shuhada Forum, an association of the parents of victim students of APS Peshawar.

"The military courts would conduct speedy trial of the militants," said Khan, adding: "The trial of terrorists in military courts should not be kept secret rather every details should be shared with masses, particularly with the parents, for maintaining transparency."

(IANS)