december 25, Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan's Foreign office (FO) defended the nation's legal system on Tuesday, claiming it conforms with international human rights standards, including the international Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), amid criticism over the recent sentencing of 25 civilians by military courts, Dawn reported.
The United States, the United Kingdom, and the european union voiced their displeasure at the military court sentences of civilians involved in the May 9 (2023) disturbances, which prompted this response.A military court found 25 pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists guilty of participating in violent protests after PTI leader imran khan was arrested. The penalties were imposed on december 21. With a focus on the use of military courts to trial civilians, the penalties, which range from two to ten years in prison, caused international outrage.
According to a european union spokesperson, pakistan and other nations that enjoy the benefits of the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status have voluntarily committed to upholding 27 fundamental international agreements, including the ICCPR. They pointed out that these accords demand a dedication to respecting human rights, and the use of military courts for civilian cases raises questions regarding compliance with these requirements.
Continuing to attack the military courts, the PTI responded by claiming that the international worries were "well-founded and justified." According to Dawn, the party voiced concerns that the choice to put people through military courts may harm Pakistan's reputation abroad and cause the nation to become isolated.
The FO addressed these issues by defending the nation's legal system and highlighting how it complies with international law. The FO stated in a statement that Pakistan's legal system ensures the advancement and defence of human rights and offers options for judicial review by higher courts. "The verdicts were made under a law enacted by the parliament and in line with the judgement of the supreme court," the statement continued, restating the government's resolve to enforce the rule of law.
pakistan also reaffirmed its allegiance to international human rights standards and pledged to meet its responsibilities under the GSP+ system. In order to advance and defend human rights without prejudice or unfair treatment, the FO stressed that pakistan would keep working with its international partners, especially the european Union."We will continue to engage with our international partners including the european union to uphold the international human rights law," the Foreign office stated.
The violence that broke out on May 9, 2023, after PTI chairman imran khan was arrested, is the reason for the military court punishments. Because demonstrators targeted military installations during the riots, military courts were involved in the punishment of those involved. 25 people were given prison sentences ranging from two to ten years by military courts on december 21 for their involvement in the attacks on military installations.
The penalties were imposed when the constitutional bench of Pakistan's supreme court permitted military courts to carry out the rulings for 85 civilians who had been arrested in relation to the May 9 riots. According to Dawn, the supreme Court's ruling would result in the immediate release of individuals who are eligible for parole after completing a portion of their sentence and the transfer of others to prison officials to complete their entire term.
After reviewing all available evidence and making sure the accused were given all of their legal rights, the military spokesperson announced that the penalties had been handed down. "All convicts retain the right to appeal and other legal recourses, as guaranteed by the law and the Constitution," stated the spokeswoman. They added that after due procedure is finished, more punishments for other implicated parties will be revealed.
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