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

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development on Monday convened a session at the Parliament House to deliberate on critical issues, “including the UAE’s unofficial visa restrictions and the welfare of overseas Pakistanis,” state-run APP news agency reported. 

The session was held after months of widespread media reporting on a decline in UAE visas for Pakistanis and a decrease in overall overseas employment for nationals of Pakistan, allegedly due to their lack of respect for local laws and customs and for participating in political activities and sloganeering while abroad.

Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the UAE for taking steps to streamline visas for Pakistanis.

“Senator Zeeshan Khanzada [chair of the session] emphasized the urgency of addressing lingering visa concerns, noting public frustration over unresolved issues,” APP reported after the meeting. 

“Khanzada pointed out discrepancies in visa processing despite applicants fulfilling all requirements and stressed the importance of keeping the public informed through compliance updates and timelines,” the state agency added.

Dr. Arshad Mahmood, secretary of the ministry of overseas Pakistanis, clarified that the restrictions “were not absolute, particularly in Dubai, where skilled labor remains unaffected.”

“He acknowledged a recent decline in the demand for unskilled labor and highlighted the need to prioritize skilled workforce migration. He added that approximately 700,000 workers have been sent abroad this year,” APP said. 

Committee members also discussed establishing dedicated immigration counters at international airports for overseas Pakistanis and facilitation for individuals whose passports had been confiscated, preventing their return to Pakistan, particularly those released from jail after falling short on visa requirements.

Last week, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi, the ambassador of the UAE to Pakistan, called on Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and briefed him on steps being taken to streamline visas for Pakistanis. Previously, the foreign office has repeatedly said Islamabad did not subscribe to the “impression” that there was a ban on UAE visas for Pakistani nationals.

“If there are any issues that arise with respect to issuance of visas and stay of Pakistani nationals in the UAE, that are important agenda items between Pakistan and the UAE and we continue to discuss them,” the foreign office spokeswoman told reporters last month.