There is another solution in Pakistan

"But if political parties decide not to extend the courts then they have to come up with a clear road map for reform of the criminal justice system and judiciary. And mere thunders of resolve and twitter statements will not be enough; this will now need a clear time table, defined leadership and budgetary allocations. The best way forward will be to extend the military courts for a year or 18 months and the process of reform of anti-terror courts – with judicial reform, security for judges, changes in Law of Evidence [what's that about?] and Witness Protection Program etc – kick-started to enable the system to take over from the military courts."

From this op-ed by Moeed Pirzada.

Editor's comment: the only way Pakistan is going to break out of the current cycle of periodic renewals of military courts' power to try civilians is by going cold turkey. Let it expire. If legislators got to work now, new legislation to fix the civilian courts (or make a good start in that direction) could be in place before the current extension expires at the end of March. The extensions are simply an opiate. The Parliament has to bite the bullet. There's your roadmap.