Amnesty International has urged Pakistan to refrain from trying more than 100 civilians in military courts for their alleged involvement in attacks on army installations during the riots that followed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9 last year.
Amnesty’s Secretary General, Dr Agnes Callamard, emphasised the need for Pakistan to uphold its international obligations, citing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which stipulate that civilians should not be tried by military courts.
During her first regional visit to South Asia, Callamard told Dawn News that military trials for civilians are unequivocally prohibited under international law.
She noted that while such trials have regrettably occurred throughout Pakistan’s political history, they threaten the constitutionality of the current judicial processes. Callamard stressed the importance of transparency, due process, and judicial independence, urging the Pakistani government to protect constitutional guarantees and ensure fair trials.
“The use of military courts is threatening the constitutionality of what’s happening right now,” Callamard said.
Regarding the ban on X (formerly Twitter) in Pakistan, Callamard expressed concern over the shrinking space for freedom of expression in the country. She described the ban as “disproportionate, unnecessary, and against international law,” highlighting its adverse impact on individuals unable to access Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
Callamard noted that both the means of expression and the people expressing themselves, including journalists, are being targeted, and emphasized that criticism of state institutions is not a crime under international law.
“Everything is being targeted, the means of expression and the people who are expressing themselves. This includes journalists. The space for free speech in Pakistan is shrinking,” she said, adding, “Pakistan should do the opposite of what it is doing right now.”
The backdrop to Callamard’s comments is Pakistan’s decision to try over 100 civilians for their alleged roles in attacks on military installations during the riots that erupted following Imran Khan’s arrest.
The Pakistani Army has detained 102 individuals accused of attacking key military establishments, including the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the Corps Commander’s House in Lahore, the Pakistan Air Force Base in Mianwali, and an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) office in Faisalabad.
In mid-December 2023, Pakistan’s top court adjourned the hearing of the case until the third week of January 2024. Prior to this, the court had conditionally allowed military trials of civilians, suspending its earlier decision to invalidate such trials. The court stipulated that military courts could not issue verdicts against the suspects until its final ruling on the matter.
Amnesty International continues to advocate for the protection of human rights and legal standards, urging Pakistan to adhere to its international commitments and ensure that civilian trials are conducted in civil courts.
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