Pakistani lawmakers have passed a constitutional amendment that would allow the military to set up courts to try terrorism cases for two years.

The lower house of parliament overwhelmingly approved the measure Tuesday. It goes next to the upper house and is expected to become law later this week.

The measure is the latest government push to combat terrorism following last month’s Taliban massacre at a military-run school in Peshawar that left 150 people dead, mostly children.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also reinstated the death penalty after the attack. Authorities have already hanged several terrorism convicts and plan to execute hundreds more.

Sharif has said Pakistan faces an existential threat from extremist and terrorist forces, and “extraordinary” measures are required to meet the challenge.
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