The European Union (EU) expressed strong concerns on Sunday over the recent military court convictions of 25 civilians for their alleged involvement in the riots that occurred on May 9 last year. An EU spokesperson highlighted that these verdicts do not align with Pakistan’s commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The statement emphasized that according to Article 14 of the ICCPR, everyone is guaranteed a fair and public trial in an independent and impartial court, along with the right to effective legal representation.
The EU pointed out that all criminal judgements should be made public. Additionally, under the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), countries like Pakistan are expected to uphold 27 core international conventions, including the ICCPR, to maintain their GSP+ benefits.
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This follows the military’s announcement that it sentenced the 25 civilians for their alleged roles in riots and attacks on military facilities last May. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), which serves as the media arm of the Pakistan Army, stated that the Field General Court Martial had evaluated the evidence and ensured that the accused were provided their legal rights.
The verdicts have faced widespread backlash, with Amnesty International condemning the military court’s actions as an intimidation tactic aimed at stifling dissent, labeling it as contrary to international law.
