Bills to set up military courts in Pakistan deferred

The Pakistan government Monday deferred till Tuesday voting on two bills aimed to set up constitutionally protected military courts to try civilian terror suspects.

Members of the National Assembly had arrived in parliament Monday to vote on the two bills - the Constitution Bill and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, Dawn online reported.

Voting was deferred after the government fell short of the required two-third majority - 228 members - for the passage of the amendments after Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed reservations on the bill.

He said his party would not vote in favour of the amendment in its current form.

Only 218 members were present during the session Monday, 10 short of the required number.