The United Kingdom on Monday expressed concern about the lack of transparency in the trial of civilians in Pakistan’s military courts, following the recent sentencing of 25 civilians involved in the riots of May 9, 2023.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office issued a statement saying: “While the UK respects Pakistan’s sovereignty over its own legal procedures, trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency, of independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial. ”
The UK government called on Pakistan to fulfill its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The European Union (EU) had also raised objections to the trials, raising concerns over Pakistan’s compliance with the ICCPR a day earlier.
An EU spokesperson reiterated that, according to Article 14 of the ICCPR, everyone has the right to a fair and public trial by an independent, impartial and competent court, with the right to effective legal representation. Furthermore, the EU stressed that any ruling in a criminal case must be made public.
The EU reminded Pakistan that under its Generalized Preferences Plus (GSP+) regime, it has committed to implement 27 international conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to continue benefiting from preferential trade status with the EU.
The unrest broke out after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan by paramilitary forces, sparking violent protests across the country. The army subsequently cracked down on the PTI and its supporters, leading to the sentencing of the 25 PTI activists to prison terms ranging from two to ten years.
