‘Deeply concerned’: US, UK and EU condemn Pakistan military courts over sentencing of civilians linked to Imran Khan protests

The United States, United Kingdom, and European Union have criticised Pakistan’s military courts for sentencing 25 civilians over their involvement in attacks on military facilities during protests in 2023 following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The civilians were handed sentences ranging from two to ten years by a Pakistani military tribunal. This decision has heightened concerns among Khan’s supporters that military courts may increasingly handle cases tied to the former leader.
The US State Department expressed “deep concern” over the verdicts, stating, “deeply concerned that Pakistani civilians have been sentenced by a military tribunal for their involvement in protests on May 9, 2023.”
Similarly, the British foreign office raised issues of fairness, saying, “trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial.”
The European Union echoed these concerns, noting the sentences were “inconsistent with the obligations that Pakistan has undertaken under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”
The protests erupted after Khan’s arrest by paramilitary forces, during which his supporters targeted military installations. The military court ruling came on Saturday, just days after Khan was indicted by an anti-terrorism court.
Khan, who was briefly released after his May 2023 arrest, was detained again in August and has remained in jail since. He faces numerous legal cases after being ousted as prime minister in 2022. Following his removal, he launched a protest movement against the coalition government led by current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Khan has claimed the cases against him, which disqualify him from contesting the 2024 elections, are politically motivated. He attributes his downfall to a rift with the military, which he accuses of orchestrating his ousting.
While candidates backed by Khan secured the most seats in recent elections, his rivals formed a coalition government. Meanwhile, a United Nations human rights working group has stated that Khan’s detention breaches international law.
The Pakistani military denies any political interference, and the government insists its treatment of Khan and his supporters has been fair. The Pakistani embassy in Washington has not commented on the matter.