LONDON: The United Kingdom (UK) on Monday said the trial of civilians in military courts “lacks transparency” after the military courts in Pakistan convicted 25 civilians in May 9 cases.
In a statement issued today, a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said, “While the UK respects Pakistan’s sovereignty over its own legal proceedings, trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial.”
The United Kingdom urged the Government of Pakistan to uphold “its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)”.
The objection came after the 25 PTI activists were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment ranging from two to 10 years by a military court for their involvement in the May 9 incidents that happened last year following the arrest of former primer Imran Khan in a graft case, the ISPR said on Saturday.
Earlier, the European Union also raised serious concerns regarding compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), saying that the verdicts are “seen as inconsistent with the obligations that Pakistan has undertaken” under the covenant.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the EU External Action Service spokesperson said, “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.”
The union also stipulates that any judgment rendered in a criminal case shall be made public.
“Under the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), beneficiary countries, including Pakistan, have voluntarily agreed to implement effectively 27 international core conventions – including the ICCPR – in order to continue benefitting from GSP+ status,” it concluded.
