The European Union condemned military court sentences for 25 supporters of Imran Khan, Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister, arguing they violated international obligations for fair trials. The EU stressed that the convictions breached Pakistan’s commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees fair, public trials with competent legal representation.
The sentenced individuals were convicted over their involvement in attacks on military facilities during May 2023 protests. The Pakistani army announced prison terms ranging from two to ten years but did not release details or the reasoning behind the verdicts, promising to announce additional sentences once due process was completed.
The EU’s statement pointed out that these military trials conflicted with ICCPR requirements, including the need for an independent court and public judgments. It also criticized the lack of transparency, highlighting the absence of clear explanations for the convictions.
Pakistan’s participation in the EU’s GSP+ trade arrangement requires adherence to international conventions like the ICCPR. The GSP+ program grants Pakistan favorable trade terms, but the EU stressed that this comes with obligations to uphold human rights standards.
Imran Khan’s party, PTI, rejected the military court rulings, claiming they violated human rights and rule of law. PTI accused military operatives of orchestrating the protests and using military trials to target innocent civilians. Pakistan’s DAWN newspaper also criticized the trials, questioning their independence and the impact on Pakistan’s democratic integrity.
