The European Union has raised concerns over the sentencing of 25 civilians by a military court in Pakistan on December 21.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU stated that these decisions are “considered inconsistent with Pakistan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).”
The EU emphasized that Article 14 of the ICCPR guarantees every individual the right to a fair and public trial by a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal, as well as the right to adequate and effective legal representation. It also highlighted that “any decision in a criminal case should be made public.”
The statement further noted that under the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), beneficiary countries, including Pakistan, have voluntarily committed to effectively implementing 27 core international conventions, including the ICCPR, to continue benefiting from GSP+ status.
The convictions in question were related to the events of May 9, for which 25 individuals were sentenced by military courts to rigorous imprisonment ranging from 2 to 10 years.
