The United States Department has expressed concern regarding the sentences imposed on civilians by military courts in Pakistan.

In a post on X by USA Urdu, the State Department spokesperson urged the authorities to respect the right to fair legal proceedings and due process.

The statement comes a day after the Inter-Services Public Relations announced that the military courts have handed down jail terms to at least 25 people who were involved in the May 9 events.

According to the military’s media wing, the punishments to the 25 accused were sentenced after examining all evidence, affording all legal rights to the accused and completing “due process”.

While issuing names of the suspects, it added that the promulgation of the sentences of the remaining accused would be announced “shortly” as and when the due process is complete.

Earlier this week, the United Kingdom expressed concerns over the military sentencing of the May 9 suspects, saying that such trials lack ‘transparency’ and urged Pakistan to fulfil its commitments under international law.

“While the UK respects Pakistan’s sovereignty over its own legal proceedings, trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency, independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial,” a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said in a statement on Monday.

On December 22, the European External Action Service said verdicts are seen as “inconsistent” with the obligations that Pakistan has undertaken under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The bloc’s agency highlighted that every person is “entitled to a fair and public trial in a court that is independent, impartial and competent, and has the right to adequate and effective legal representation,” in line with Article 14 of ICCPR.

“It also stipulates that any judgement rendered in a criminal case shall be made public,” it said.