- Article 14 of the ICCPR calls for a fair trial before an impartial tribunal: EU.
- “Any judgment rendered in criminal matters is made public.”
- 25 people involved in the events of May 9 were sentenced.
The European Union (EU) has expressed concern over the conviction by a military court of 25 defendants involved in the May 9 events, saying the verdicts were considered incompatible with Pakistan’s obligations under the Covenant international law relating to civil and civil rights. Political rights (ICCPR).
“In accordance with Article 14 of the ICCPR, everyone has the right to a fair and public hearing before an independent, impartial and competent tribunal, and has the right to adequate and effective legal representation,” reads a statement issued by the European Commission of the EU. External Action Service.
Furthermore, she adds, Article 14 also states that “any judgment rendered in a 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 core international conventions – including the ICCPR – in order to continue to benefit from GSP+ status , concludes the press release.
This development comes a day after 25 people involved in the May 9, 2023 attacks on public facilities were sentenced to 2 to 10 years in prison by military courts.
“The Field General Court Martial (FGCM) has, in the first phase, promulgated sanctions against 25 accused,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, regarding the suspects who resorted to the violence during the May 9 demonstrations.
The protests erupted after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in a corruption case. In return, many PTI workers have been arrested and more than 100 civilians are currently being tried by the military.
However, the party claimed it had no role in incidents involving military installations, including the attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ), and called for a judicial inquiry into last year’s events.
Army media added that the promulgation of the sentences of the other accused is also underway and will be announced soon, once the due process is completed.
“All convicts retain the right to appeal and other legal remedies, as guaranteed by law and the Constitution,” the ISPR said in the statement.
Military trials were initially halted after a Supreme Court ruling; However, the constitutional chamber had ordered last week that the cases pending due to the earlier order be finalized and the judgments in the cases of the accused involved in these violent incidents be announced.
Explaining the attacks, the ISPR said that on May 9, the country witnessed tragic incidents of politically provoked violence and arson at several places, marking a dark chapter in Pakistan’s history.
Building on a sustained narrative of hatred and lies, the ISPR said, politically orchestrated attacks were carried out on armed forces installations, including desecration of Shuhada (martyr) monuments.
“These blatant acts of violence have not only shocked the nation, but also highlighted the need to end this unacceptable attempt at political terrorism aimed at imposing its own evil will through violence and coercion.”