Pakistan begins legal process for military trial of terrorism-related cases

Pakistani military is set to formally begin hearing of terrorism-related cases as the government has sent 12 cases for trial in courts to be headed by army officers.

The government had decided to set up military-led special courts after the Taliban's brutal attack on an army-run school in Peshawar in December last year that had killed 140 children and 10 of their teachers.

The parliament had introduced an amendment in the constitution to set up the courts for the speedy trial as officials insisted people involved in terrorism escape punishment in the regular judicial system or their trial is delayed.

"To begin with 12 cases assigned to military courts. Legal process kicks off," the army spokesman, Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa said on Saturday.

The courts will be established for two years in four provinces, according to the new legislation.

Officials say that the provincial governments have prepared lists of the cases to be referred to the military courts in the coming weeks.

The government of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has also decided to refer cases against the Pakistani Taliban chief, Maulvi Fazalullah, who has been charged for killings of many people. Fazalullah, in a video, had claimed responsibility for the attack on the Army Public School.

Defense sources say the courts will deliver verdicts in months. Endi