ISLAMABAD: In response to statements on recent verdicts by military courts, the Foreign Office yesterday said that the judgments were made under a law enacted by the parliament and in line with the ruling of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

In a statement, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said: "Pakistan is fully committed to fulfilling all its international human rights obligations." She said that Pakistan's legal system is consistent with international human rights law, including provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)."It has remedies of judicial review by the superior courts and guarantees promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms."

The spokesperson added that Islamabad believes in constructive and productive dialogue to promote principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. "We remain fully committed to implementing our commitments under the GSP Plus Scheme and core international human rights conventions."

The FO spokesperson said that they would continue to engage with their international partners including the European Union to uphold the international human rights law, without any discrimination and double standards. The military court last week sentenced 25 individuals involved in the attacks on state installations during the violent protests of May 9, 2023.

The violent protests broke out after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was taken into custody in a graft case. In turn, scores of party workers were arrested and more than 100 civilians are facing military trials.However, the Khan-founded party maintained that it had no role in the incidents involving military installations, including the attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ), and has called for a judicial probe into last year's events.

Following the verdict, the European Union, United Kingdom and the United States expressed concerns over the recent sentencing of civilians by the military courts.

Earlier yesterday, the US expressed "deep concern" over the conviction of 25 civilians in a military tribunal in Pakistan, claiming the military courts lacked judicial independence, transparency, and due process guarantees.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 25 2024

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