The European External Action Service (EEAS) has raised concerns over the sentencing of 25 civilians by Pakistan’s military court on December 21.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the EU’s diplomatic service said, “These verdicts are viewed as inconsistent with Pakistan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).”
The statement came a day after the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that military courts had sentenced the 25 individuals involved in the May 9 events. According to the military’s media wing, the sentences were handed down after reviewing all evidence, ensuring the accused’s legal rights, and completing the “due process.”
The EU emphasized that under Article 14 of the ICCPR, every individual is entitled to a fair and public trial in an independent, impartial, and competent court, with the right to effective legal representation. It further stressed that criminal judgments should be made public.
Additionally, the EU cautioned Pakistan that this development could have implications for its Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status, which grants Pakistan preferential trade terms with the European market. The European Parliament had unanimously voted in October 2023 to extend Pakistan’s GSP+ status until 2027, contingent on the country’s continued commitment to international conventions.
Pakistan was granted GSP+ status on January 1, 2014, after ratifying 27 core international conventions, including the ICCPR, which are required for the country to retain these trade privileges. The EU reminded Pakistan that, under the GSP+ arrangement, it had voluntarily agreed to implement these conventions effectively to continue benefiting from duty-free access to the EU market.
