Washington [US]: The United States has raised concerns over the sentencing of 25 civilians by a military court in Pakistan’s Islamabad, where they were found guilty of targeting military installations.
“The United States is concerned by the sentencing of Pakistani civilians in a military tribunal and calls upon Pakistani authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and due process,” said US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday.
The United States is concerned by the sentencing of Pakistani civilians in a military tribunal and calls upon Pakistani authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and due process.
— Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) December 23, 2024
The US statement follows a similar expression of concern by the European Union (EU) just a day earlier.
On Sunday, the EU highlighted issues with the verdict, stating that it contradicted Pakistan’s international commitments to uphold a “fair and public” trial for all individuals. According to The Express Tribune, the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels issued a statement, saying, “The European Union notes with concern the sentencing of 25 civilians by a military court on December 21 in Pakistan.”
The military court handed down prison sentences ranging from two to 10 years to individuals accused of targeting military installations during protests following the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in May last year.
Pakistan’s military described the events of May 9 as a day of “politically provoked violence and arson” across the country. According to their statement, politically motivated attacks targeted military installations, which they called “blatant acts of violence” and labeled as an “unacceptable attempt of political terrorism.”
A field general court martial convicted 25 individuals in what the military described as the “first phase” after reviewing evidence and completing legal procedures.
The EU, however, expressed concern over these trials, calling them inconsistent with Pakistan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
“In line with Article 14 of ICCPR, every person is entitled to a fair and public trial in a court that is independent, impartial, and competent, and has the right to adequate and effective legal representation. It also stipulates that any judgment rendered in a criminal case shall be made public,” the EU statement emphasized.
The EU also tied these concerns to Pakistan’s participation in the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), a trade program that offers tariff preferences to vulnerable developing countries. Pakistan’s GSP+ status requires compliance with 27 international conventions, including the ICCPR, to maintain preferential access to the EU market.
Under the GSP+, Pakistan has exported goods to the EU at zero duties for 66% of tariff lines, increasing its exports to the EU market by 65% since joining the scheme in 2014. The EU single market, which includes over 440 million consumers, is Pakistan’s largest export destination.