ISLAMABAD: The US State Department this week joined the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) in expressing concerns over a Pakistani military court’s recent decision to sentence 25 civilians to prison for partaking in violent protests last year, calling on Islamabad to respect citizens’ right to a fair trial and due process. 

Pakistan’s military on Dec. 21 sentenced 25 people to periods of two to 10 years of “rigorous imprisonment” for participating in violent protests on May 9, 2023, when hundreds carrying flags of former prime minister Imran Khan’s party attacked government and military installations. The protests erupted after Khan’s brief detention on corruption charges, resulting in damage to major military facilities and martyrs’ monuments in the country. 

Khan’s party challenges the military’s version, denying it was involved in the violence and stating that the May 9 incident was a “false flag” operation aimed at crushing it as it faced a nationwide crackdown with hundreds of its supporters arrested. 

The EU said on Sunday that the sentencing was “inconsistent” with Pakistan’s international obligations, and that according to them every person is entitled to a fair and public trial in an impartial and independent court. The UK also expressed alarm at the development on Monday, saying that trying civilians in military courts “lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial.”

“The United States is deeply concerned that Pakistani civilians have been sentenced by a military tribunal for their involvement in protests on May 9, 2023. These military courts lack judicial independence, transparency, and due process guarantees,” the State Department said in a statement on Monday. 

“The United States continues to call on Pakistani authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and due process, as enshrined in Pakistan’s constitution.”

The Pakistan government and military have not yet responded to the statements by the US, UK and EU. However, while announcing the military court verdicts on Dec. 21, the army’s media wing said the sentences were an “important milestone in dispensation of justice to the nation.”

“It is also a stark reminder to all those who are exploited by the vested interests and fall prey to their political propaganda and intoxicating lies, to never take law in own hands,” the army said in a statement.

Others charged over the violence were being tried in anti-terrorism courts but justice would only be fully served “once the mastermind and planners ... are punished as per the Constitution and laws of the land,” the military said, in what was widely seen as a veiled reference to Khan.

The ruling came days after Khan was indicted by an anti-terrorism court on charges of inciting attacks against the military. An army general who served under him as his spy chief, Faiz Hamid, is facing a military investigation on the same charges.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court last week allowed military courts to announce verdicts in concluded trials of nearly 85 supporters of Khan on charges of attacking army installations. However, it made such verdicts conditional on the outcome of appeals against the jurisdiction of military courts over civilians.

The court last year provisionally allowed military courts to try civilians.

ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom said on Monday trying civilians in military courts lacked transparency and undermined the right to a fair trial, days after 25 civilians were sentenced by a Pakistani military court to periods of two to 10 years of “rigorous imprisonment” in connection with attacks on military facilities in 2023.

The Dec. 21 ruling underscores concerns among supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan that military courts are going to play a bigger role in cases involving the 72-year-old cricketer-turned politician, who is facing multiple charges including allegedly inciting attacks against the armed forces. He is currently facing these charges in a civilian court, but his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party fears he may also be taken to military trial. 

The government says thousands of Khan supporters stormed military installations and torched a general’s house on May 9, 2023, among other violence, to protest against the former PM’s arrest by paramilitary soldiers that day in a land graft case. At least eight people were killed in the violence. 

“While the UK respects Pakistan’s sovereignty over its own legal proceedings, trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial,” a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson, said. “We call on the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”

The Pakistan government and military have not yet responded to the UK statement, which follows one by the European Union, saying the military court verdicts were “inconsistent” with Pakistan’s international obligations.

On Saturday, while announcing the military court verdicts, the army’s media wing said the sentences were an “important milestone in dispensation of justice to the nation.”

“It is also a stark reminder to all those who are exploited by the vested interests and fall prey to their political propaganda and intoxicating lies, to never take law in own hands,” the army said in a statement.

Others charged over the violence were being tried in anti-terrorism courts but justice would only be fully served “once the mastermind and planners ... are punished as per the Constitution and laws of the land,” the military said, in what was widely seen as a veiled reference to Khan. 

The ruling comes days after Khan was indicted by an anti-terrorism court on charges of inciting attacks against the military. An army general who served under him as his spy chief, Faiz Hamid, is facing a military investigation on the same charges.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court last week allowed military courts to announce verdicts in concluded trials of nearly 85 supporters of Khan on charges of attacking army installations. However, it made such verdicts conditional on the outcome of appeals against the jurisdiction of military courts over civilians.

The court last year provisionally allowed military courts to try civilians.

With inputs from Reuters