Three military courts have started work in the Pakistani city of Karachi as part of the prime minister's plans to restore law and order in the city.

The first three trials to be heard by the military courts concern two cases of murder and one of gang rape.

Those accused will be able to present their defence to a bench consisting of three officers - each court is headed by a lieutenant-colonel assisted by two majors.

When he originally announced the establishment of the military courts, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that they would conclude each case in just three days. Defendants, he said, would have one chance for an appeal - again, not to last more than three days.

The prime minister hopes that the military-court system in Karachi will provide an example of the kind of speedy justice which he says is needed by the common man in Pakistan.

Concern over 'speedy justice'

Military officials, though, have made it clear that if they think reaching a correct verdict will take longer than that, they may be prepared to extend the length of a trial.

Human-rights campaigners have complained that deciding cases in a matter of a few days is likely to lead to miscarriages of justice. Once a case is in the military-court system, the defendant has no right of appeal to the civilian courts.