The US, Britain and the European Union on Monday criticized Pakistan’s military courts over the sentencing of 25 civilians in connection with attacks on military facilities in 2023 following the arrest of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The civilians were sentenced to two to 10 years in prison by a Pakistani military court in a verdict that underlined concerns among Khan’s supporters that military courts would play a bigger role in cases related to the former leader.
The US State Department said, “Washington is deeply concerned that Pakistani nationals have been sentenced by a military tribunal for their involvement in the protests on May 9, 2023.”
The British government’s Foreign Office stated that “Trialing civilians in military courts lacks transparency, independent investigation and undermines the right to a fair trial.”
The EU said these sentences were “incompatable with the obligations undertaken by Pakistan under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”
Khan supporters attacked military installations to protest his arrest by paramilitary forces.
The decision on Saturday came days after an anti-terrorism court convicted Khan. Following his arrest in May 2023, Khan was briefly released before being arrested again in August that year and has remained in jail since then.
He has faced dozens of cases since he was removed as prime minister in 2022, following which he launched a protest movement against the coalition of his rivals led by current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Khan says the cases against him, which have disqualified him from contesting the 2024 elections, are politically motivated. He had differences with the Pakistan Army, whom he holds responsible for his expulsion.
Candidates supported by Khan won the highest number of seats in the election. However, his rivals formed a coalition government. The United Nations Human Rights Working Group has said Khan’s detention violates international law.
The army denies political interference. The Government of Pakistan denies unfair treatment to Khan or his supporters. The Pakistani Embassy in Washington had no immediate comment.
(Reporting by Kanishk Singh in Washington; Editing by Rod Nickel)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
