The European External Action Service has expressed concerns over the sentencing of twenty-five civilians by a military court on December 21 in Pakistan.

“These verdicts are seen as inconsistent with the obligations that Pakistan has undertaken under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),” the EU’s diplomatic service said in a statement on Sunday.

The statement from EEAS, which works EU and the United Nations, 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.

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.

The EU also warned Pakistan of the repercussions of the decision on their 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.

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In October 2023, the European Parliament unanimously voted to extend the GSP+ for another four years until 2027 for developing countries, including Pakistan.

Pakistan was awarded GSP+ status on January 1, 2014 after the country had ratified 27 international conventions and committed to implement them. It grants the country zero-rated or preferential tariffs on nearly 66% of tariff lines, enhancing the country’s ability to export to the EU market.

“Under the EU’s GSP+, beneficiary countries, including Pakistan, have voluntarily agreed to implement effectively 27 international core conventions - including the ICCPR - in order to continue benefitting from GSP+ status,” said the statement.