ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has said that the revival of military courts was an issue of national importance.

“We have agreed to reestablish military courts for a period of two years, considering it is an issue of national importance,” Sadiq told journalists.

Sadiq said though the law relating to the courts had not been changed, the reestablishment is conditional.

Explaining the decision taken by the parliamentarians, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the decision was made in view of the fact that the country is fighting a war against terrorism.”

“An oversight committee comprising parliamentary leaders of both the Houses will be formed to plan a future line of action at the conclusion of the two-year period,” he added.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Aitzaz Ahsan said that the opposition had agreed to the proposal conditionally after due consultation today.

“The government has agreed to four of the nine demands put forth by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP),” he said. Without elaborating further, Aitzaz said, “We did not insist on appointment of session judges in the courts.”

The military courts were established through the 21st Constitutional Amendment after the December 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar which left 150 people, mostly children, dead.