ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson on Tuesday said that the recent verdicts by the country’s military courts against civilians arrested in connection with the May 9 riots were made “under a law enacted by the Parliament of Pakistan and in line with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan”.
Earlier, the US Department of State showed concern over the trial of civilians by military courts in Pakistan.
Last week, Pakistan’s military courts sentenced 25 civilians to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for their involvement in violent attacks on military installations during nationwide riots in May 2023.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, described the verdicts as “an important milestone in the dispensation of justice”.
However, the United States, the European Union (EU), and the United Kingdom (UK) reacted to the trial of civilians by military courts in Pakistan and asked Islamabad to respect the right to a fair trial and due process.
In response to statements, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to fulfilling all its international human rights obligations. “Pakistan is fully committed to fulfilling all its international human rights obligations.”
She said that the verdicts had been made under a law enacted by the Parliament of Pakistan and in line with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s legal system is consistent with international human rights law including provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),” Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.
The spokesperson added that the country’s legal system had remedies of judicial review by the superior courts and guaranteed the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Pakistan believed in constructive and productive dialogue to promote principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, Baloch said. “We remain fully committed to implementing our commitments under the GSP Plus Scheme and core international human rights conventions,” the spokesperson said.
“We will continue to engage with our international partners including the European Union to uphold the international human rights law, without any discrimination and double standards,” Baloch maintained.
On May 9, 2023, following the arrest of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, PTI supporters thronged the streets in protest.
Several protesters were later arrested in connection with damages to several military and state installations, including the Corps Commander’s residence (Jinnah House) in Lahore and the gates of the military’s General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s constitutional bench conditionally allowed military courts to announce reserved verdicts of 85 civilians who were in custody for their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots.
