EU questions military court's verdicts against PTI workers in May 9 cases

European Union expressed concerns over the sentences announced by Pakistan’s military courts on December 21 for the 25 individuals convicted for their involvement in the violence during the protest that erupted on May 9, 2023, after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in Al-Qadir Trust case. 

According to the EU’s European External Action Service, the verdict is “inconsistent” with Pakistan’s commitment to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). 

“These verdicts are seen as inconsistent with the obligations that Pakistan has undertaken under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),” Anouar El Anouni, a spokesperson for EU foreign affairs and security policy, said in a statement.

Moreover, the EU reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) in that Pakistan is a beneficiary of a special trade agreement and has voluntarily committed to implement 27 international conventions, including the ICCPR.

“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. It also stipulates that any judgment rendered in a criminal case shall be made public.”

However, the statement came after the military court announced a verdict against 25 PTI workers who had been tried in military courts for more than a year, with sentences ranging from two to 10 years imprisonment.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), these individuals were involved in politically motivated attacks on military installations, including the General Headquarters (GHQ). 

The ISPR had described the incidents as a “dark chapter in Pakistan’s history”, and alleged they were orchestrated acts of political terrorism.