PTI criticises govt for risking Pakistan’s int’l standing with military court sentences

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said that the EU’s apprehensions regarding sentencing civilians in military courts were well-founded and justified, fearing it would not only further isolate Pakistan in diplomatic circles but it would also threaten its hard-won preferential access to the EU trade.

PTI CIS stated that the EU’s concerns about military courts’ decisions being inconsistent with Pakistan’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) were valid.

He said that Pakistan’s compliance with the ICCPR, which guaranteed due process and fair trials, was integral to its continued participation in the scheme, but in this case, civilians were deprived of all fundamental legal and constitutional rights and the military courts gave unilateral decisions.

He stated that Anouar El Anouni, spokesperson for EU foreign affairs and security policy, had raised valid concerns over the sentencing of 25 individuals by military courts for their involvement in the May 9 attacks on state installations in Pakistan.

Waqas urged the government to shun the ham-handed and ostrich-like burying head in the sand approach because these draconian measures and ill-conceived tactics would only serve to exacerbate the country’s problems, plunging it deeper into crisis.

He emphasized that the power usurpers did not have the realization of the severity of the situation, as the GSP+ scheme had been a cornerstone of Pakistan’s trade relationship with the EU since 2014. Losing GSP+ would lead to an estimated annual loss of $1.5–2 billion in export revenues, which would severely impact Pakistan’s economy.

He expressed alarm that the mandate thieves continued fascism, human rights violations, and abuse of powers coupled with unjust military court verdicts would not only jeopardize the EU’s trade arrangement but would further compound Pakistan’s miseries at both the national and international level.

PTI CIS emphasized that Pakistan’s economic prosperity was inextricably linked to political stability. However, he lamented that those who had usurped power were more focused on consolidating their own rule, rather than prioritizing the nation’s interests.

Waqas stated that the powers snatchers did not bother about the state’s interests because they had nothing to do with the country, as they stashed all their ill-gotten wealth abroad and just came here to rule the country.

PTI CIS strongly condemned the detention of the brother of a martyr from the Islamabad massacre, as well as the harassment of his family, apparently aimed at coercing them to withdraw their case. He said that the government should stop the relentless harassment of the heirs of D-Chowk martyrs and warned that the nation would strongly react to this fascism and barbarity.

Waqas vowed that PTI would vigorously pursue their cases through all available channels and explore every legal avenue to ensure that those responsible for this heinous act, including both perpetrators and masterminds, were brought to justice.

Regarding talks with the government, PTI CIS noted that it’s too early to assess the government’s seriousness, as it was a preliminary meeting. However, he stated that the situation would become clearer after conducting some rounds of talks.