DATE=1/30/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244884
TITLE=PAK MILITARY COURTS, UPDATE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT 
HAS DECIDED TO SET UP MILITARY COURTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IN 
AN EFFORT TO COMBAT VIOLENCE.  MILITARY COURTS ARE ALREADY 
OPERATING IN PAKISTAN'S COMMERCIAL CAPITAL, KARACHI.  SARAH 
HORNER HAS THE DETAILS FROM ISLAMABAD.

TEXT: PRIME MINISTER SHARIF MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN LAHORE, THE 
CAPITAL OF THE CENTRAL PUNJAB PROVINCE.  HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE 
DIED IN PUNJAB IN A WAVE OF SECTARIAN AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE 
WHICH HAS SWEPT THE PROVINCE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

MR. SHARIF SAYS THE ORDER TO ESTABLISH MILITARY COURTS THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.  UNDER PROVISIONS OF THE 
ORDER THE MILITARY COURTS WILL BE ABLE TO TRY PEOPLE IN ABSTENTIA
-- WITHOUT THEM BEING IN THE COURTROOM.

MILITARY COURTS IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN'S PORT CITY IN THE SOUTHERN 
SINDH PROVINCE, WERE ESTABLISHED LAST NOVEMBER.  KARACHI HAS BEEN
PLAGUED FOR MANY YEARS BY ETHNIC AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE, WHICH 
HAS KILLED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

THE DECISION TO SET UP THE KARACHI MILITARY COURTS WAS WIDELY 
CRITICIZED BY HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS.  LAWYER AND SENIOR OFFICIAL OF
THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN, ASMA JAHANGIR, SAYS THE 
SETTING UP OF MORE MILITARY COURTS FURTHER UNDERMINES DEMOCRACY 
IN PAKISTAN.

                       // JAHANGIR  ACT //

         I THINK IT IS A VERY UNHAPPY SITUATION BECAUSE THE 
         MILITARY COURTS IN KARACHI ARE VERY CONTROVERSIAL. THE 
         VERY PURPOSE OF THESE COURTS IS FOR EASY CONVICTIONS AND
         QUICK CONVICTIONS. IT ALSO HAS ANOTHER RAMIFICATION -- 
         THE PRIME MINISTER PROBABLY DOES NOT REALIZE -- BUT HE 
         IS REALLY PAVING THE WAY TO MILITARY RULE.

                          // END ACT //

PAKISTAN'S SUPREME COURT HAS HALTED THE CARRYING OUT OF DEATH 
SENTENCES PASSED BY THE KARACHI MILITARY COURTS, AND IS MEETING 
MONDAY TO CONSIDER THE VALIDITY OF THE COURTS.  MS. JAHANGIR SAYS
SATURDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF FURTHER MILITARY COURTS IS A CLEAR 
SIGNAL TO THE SUPREME COURT THAT PRIME MINISTER SHARIF IS UNHAPPY
WITH ITS PERFORMANCE AND IS WILLING TO ESTABLISH A PARALLEL 
JUDICIARY.  (SIGNED)

NEB/SLH/GE

30-Jan-99 12:50 PM EST (1750 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.