The recent sentencing of 25 civilians by a military court has prompted the European Union to raise concerns on Sunday, stating that the verdicts are seen as "inconsistent with the obligations that Pakistan has undertaken under the Inter­national Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)”.

An EU spokesperson said in a statement that Article 14 of CCPR states that every person is entitled to a fair and public trial in an independent court and that judgements rendered in criminal cases must be made public. 

The spokesperson pointed out that under the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), beneficiary countries, inclu­ding Pakistan, have voluntarily agreed to implement conventions that include the ICCPR, in order to continue benefitting from GSP+ status.

GSP+ allows developing countries, including Pakistan, to export goods to the EU market at zero duties for 66 per cent of tariff lines. This preferential status is conditional on GSP Plus countries demonstrating tangible progress on the implementation of 27 international conventions on human and labour rights, environmental protection, climate change and good governance. Pakistan now exports approximately EUR 5.4 billion worth of goods, namely garments, bedlinen, terry towels, hosiery, leat­her, sports and surgical goods, to the European Union. 

EU's statement could spell trouble for Pakistan just as its flailing economy has begun the journey towards stabilisation.