The government would approach the international community to clarify its concerns over the sentencing of civilians by military courts, Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, the prime minister’s coordinator, said on Monday.

“The government will approach them [European Union, United States, and United Kingdom] if there is any misunderstanding,” he said while appearing on Aaj News programme Spotlight with Munizae Jahangir.

“We will take up [the matter] with them and inform them how matters are run here as people sentenced by military courts have the right of appeal,” he added.

The international community and the International Court of Jurists have expressed concerns over the sentencing of 85 civilians by a military court in Pakistan. They were being awarded jail terms for being involved in May 9 events when violent protesters vandalised state buildings and military installations after former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested in a graft case in Islamabad.

While the UK and EU called on Pakistan to uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the block also warned the country of the repercussions of such decisions on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status which allows the South Asian country to enjoy duty-free or minimum duty on exports to the European market.

Last week, 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. After some days, 60 more suspects were awarded jail terms.

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.

When asked about the government’s apparent reluctance to form a judicial commission on May 9 and November 26, he opined that the commission gives its report and it was like an inquiry.

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The premier’s coordinator added that the court does not treat it as a piece of evidence and conducts its investigation into the case. “It is a different layer. It is yet to see whether it will clear matters or further confuse it. I will not rule out anything.”

Afzal claimed that human rights were not violated during the civilians’ trial. In response to a question, the PML-N leader said that it was yet to prove whether someone was a “political prisoner” or not.

Automatic meters for transformers

The premier’s coordinator said that the government would try to install automatic meters on transformers to help map the chain of transformers. “It will show areas where electricity is being stolen.”

But he added that the three-phase project was dependent on the budget.