ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party has invited the heads of mainstream political parties to attend an All Parties Conference to discuss issues such as the National Action Plan and extending the term of military courts.
The conference is scheduled to be held on March 4th at Zardari House.
In the invitation, every party has been asked to send a four-member delegation to the APC. The agenda of the conference is also attached with the invitation.
Earlier, former president and Pakistan People’s Party Co-chairman, Asif Zardari, chaired a party meeting to review arrangements and finalise the agenda of the APC.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announced its decision to disregard the PPP invitation for the APC. PTI Chairman Imran Khan tweeted that PTI will not be part of PPP’s APC as a meeting of leaders of parliamentary parties has agreed to give powers to the military courts and the constitutional amendment bill to the effect will be tabled in National Assembly on March 6th.
Last week, parliamentary leaders agreed on the revival of military courts for two years.
The understanding came during a meeting of parliamentary leaders held under National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in Parliament House. The meeting was attended by leaders of different political parties.
Talking to newsmen after the meeting, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had said all the parties, except the Pakistan People’s Party, have agreed on an extension of military courts for two years instead of three years.
He held that the process would require amendments in the constitution and the relevant law and therefore, sessions of both the National Assembly and the Senate are being convened. He stated the decision has been taken with majority consensus and hoped that the PPP, which has convened a meeting of political parties on Saturday, would also take a decision as per the requirements of the country.
