After the deadly attack on Army Public School in Peshawar on 16 December 2014, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif summoned all parties conference in Peshawar on 17 December 2014. On 24 December 2014 another all parties conference was chaired by PM Nawaz Sharif and after a 10-hour long meeting with the parliamentary heads of all the political parties a consensus was reached on a country-wide counter terrorism strategy in the country including setting up of military courts.

“A line has been drawn. On one side are coward terrorists and on the other side stands the whole nation”.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif; 25 December 2014

After the 10-hour long meeting on 24 December 2014, Prime Minister, in the mid-night of 24 and 25 December 2014, announced 20-point national action plan to counter terrorism in a televised address to the nation. Prime Minister said, “A line has been drawn. On one side are coward terrorists and on the other side stands the whole nation”.

For setting up of military courts for the period of two years twenty-first amendment bill was passed by both, national assembly and senate, on 6 January 2015, and received the assent of the President of Pakistan on 7 January 2015. The Bill amended the Article 175 and the First Schedule of the Constitution. All the parties voted in favour of the bill except for PTI, JUI(F) and JI who abstained from voting.

The 20-point national action plan announced by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on 25 December 2014.