ISLAMABAD: Responding to international criticism, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday that the trials of civilians accused in the May 9 riots cases conducted by military courts fully adhered to international laws, with no violations of human rights.
Speaking at a press conference, the information dismissed criticism from the United States, European Union and United Kingdom and said that no domestic or international laws were violated in the military trials of civilians.
Last week, Pakistan’s military courts sentenced 25 civilians to prison terms ranging from two to ten years for their involvement in violent attacks on military installations during the nationwide riots on May 9, 2023.
The US, EU and UK had asked Pakistan to respect the right to a fair trial and due process.
The information minister assured that military trials adhere to fair trial principles.
The accused are granted the right to a lawyer, meetings with family, and the right of appeal. Trials are conducted in the physical presence of the accused. In addition, decisions can be appealed either within the military judicial framework or through the High Court,” Tarar said.
The minister dismissed claims of injustice in military trials, asserting that no laws—domestic or international—were violated. He said there is also a right to appeal against a military court’s decision.
Tarar said that the founding chairman of the PTI has been extolling the virtues of military courts in the past. He said some people are politicizing the issue of military courts and the PTI is trying to make the issue of military courts controversial.
The minister said a trial in military courts occurs when someone attacks a defence institution. He said cases of attacks on military installations are tried in military courts as per the law.
The Minister said there is irrefutable evidence against those who were tried in military courts. He clarified that the culprits of the May 9 incidents will be punished according to the law.
However, he said that the right to a fair trial will be observed. He said Pakistan has never violated international laws.
Attaullah Tarar said that the rule of law is essential and that Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah also taught to uphold the supremacy of the law.
On Tuesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the military courts’ verdicts against civilians were made “under a law enacted by the Parliament of Pakistan and in line with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan”.
The spokesperson 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.
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.
