ISLAMABAD: The
Pakistan People’s Party has invited heads of mainstream political parties to attend All Parties Conference to d
iscuss issues such as the National Action Plan and extending the term of military courts.
The conference is scheduled to be held on March 4 at Zardari House.
In the invitation, every party has been asked to send a four-member delegation to th
e APC. The agenda of the conference is also attached with the invitati
on.
Earlier, Former president and
Pakistan People’s Party Co-chairman Asif Zardari chaired a party me
eting to review arrangements and finalise agenda of th
e APC.
The
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announced to disregard the PPP invitation to attend th
e APC. PTI Chairman Imran Khan tweeted that PTI will not be part of PPP’s APC as a me
eting 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 6.
Last week, parliamentary leaders agreed on revival of military courts for two years.
The understanding came during a me
eting of parliamentary leaders held under National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in Parliament House. The me
eting 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 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 said the decision has been taken with consensus. He hoped that the PPP, which has convened a me
eting of political parties on Saturday, would also take a decision as per requirements of the country.
