Pakistan To Set Up Military Courts For Terrorism

Pakistani paramilitary and police search for suspects in a residential area of Islamabad following last week massacre of schoolchildren in Peshawar.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said the country will set up special trial courts under the supervision of military officers to prosecute terrorism cases.

Sharif spoke late on December 24 after a meeting with political and military leaders to discuss a new national action plan against militancy following a deadly Taliban school attack.

Sharif said the courts will function for the next two years and that changes to current laws would need to be made.

The December 16 attack on a military-run school in the northwestern city of Peshawar killed 151 people, mostly schoolchildren.

Following the assault, the government reinstated the death penalty for terrorism-related cases.

Speaking at the Islamabad talks, Sharif welcomed an Afghan army offensive against Taliban in eastern Afghanistan and said Islamabad would take action against militants who launch attacks into Afghanistan from Pakistan.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP