The European Union (EU) has described the military court’s punishment of civilians involved in the May 9 incidents as inconsistent with Pakistan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
A statement issued by European External Action stated that “Article 14 of the ICCPR states that everyone has the right to a fair and public trial by a court that is independent, impartial and competent, and He has the right to adequate and effective legal representation.” Service (EEAS).
Furthermore, it said, Article 14 also stipulates that “judgment rendered in any criminal case shall be made public”.
Under the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), beneficiary countries including Pakistan have voluntarily agreed to effectively implement 27 international core conventions – including the ICCPR – to continue to enjoy GSP+ status. can be kept
The development comes a day after military courts sentenced 25 people involved in the May 9, 2023 attacks on state facilities to 2 to 10 years in prison.
“Field General Court Martial (FGCM) has registered. [the] 25 accused were convicted in the first phase,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said of the accused who resorted to violence during the May 9 protest.
The protests erupted after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was detained in a corruption case. As a result, hundreds of PTI activists were arrested and over 100 civilians are facing military trials.
However, the party maintains that it had no role in incidents involving military installations, including the attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ), and has demanded a judicial probe into last year’s incidents.
The media wing of the army added that the punishments of the remaining accused are also being announced and will be announced soon when the process is completed.
“All convicts retain the right of appeal and other legal remedies, as guaranteed by law and the Constitution,” the ISPR said in the statement.
Military trials were initially put on hold after the Supreme Court’s decision. However, the constitution bench had last week directed that the cases pending due to the earlier order be finalized and the verdicts of the accused involved in the violent incidents be announced.
Explaining the attacks, the ISPR said that on May 9, the nation witnessed sad incidents of politically motivated violence and arson at several places, a dark chapter in Pakistan’s history.
The ISPR said politically motivated attacks on armed forces installations, including the desecration of martyrs’ memorials, were carried out based on a sustained narrative of hatred and lies.
“These blatant acts of violence not only shocked the nation but also marked it. [the] This unacceptable attempt of political terrorism to impose its nefarious will through violence and coercion needs to be stopped.”