- EU’s Statement: The European Union expressed concern over the sentencing of 25 civilians by a military court in Pakistan on December 21, 2023.
- Violation of ICCPR: The EU emphasized that the rulings appear to conflict with Pakistan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
- Right to Fair Trial:
- Article 14 of the ICCPR ensures the right to a fair, public trial before an independent and impartial tribunal.
- Criminal judgments must be made public.
- GSP+ Commitments: Pakistan, as a beneficiary of the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), is obligated to implement 27 international conventions, including the ICCPR, to retain its trade privileges.
EU Expresses Concern Over Sentencing of 25 Civilians by Military Court in Pakistan.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU highlighted its concerns, stating that the rulings appear inconsistent with Pakistan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The statement emphasized that Article 14 of the ICCPR ensures every individual the right to a fair and public trial before an independent, impartial, and competent tribunal. It further stresses the right to adequate and effective legal representation. The EU added that Article 14 also mandates that all judgments in criminal cases must be made public.
The EU underscored the commitments made by Pakistan and other beneficiary countries under the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which requires effective implementation of 27 core international conventions, including the ICCPR, to retain GSP+ benefits.
It is worth noting that the military court’s sentencing of 25 individuals stems from their involvement in the May 9 incidents. The convicted individuals were handed prison terms ranging from two to ten years.