Category: National

After twenty-five civilians were sentenced to prison by military courts on December 21 for their involvement in attacks on military installations during the May 9 riots, the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) have also raised concerns about the lack of transparency.

A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said: “While the UK respects Pakistan’s sovereignty over its legal proceedings, trying civilians in military courts lacks transparency and independent scrutiny and undermines the right to a fair trial.”

“We call on the government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),” concluded the FCDO spokesperson on December 23.

Similarly, the US States Department issued a press statement which read: “The United States is deeply concerned that a military tribunal has sentenced Pakistani civilians for their involvement in protests on May 9, 2023. These military courts lack judicial independence, transparency, and due process guarantees.”

“The United States continues to call on Pakistani authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and due process, as enshrined in Pakistan’s constitution,” stated the press release by the US State Department.

Earlier, the European Union (EU) also raised serious concerns over the military trials of civilians, stating that the verdicts were seen as “inconsistent with the obligations that Pakistan has undertaken under the Inter­national Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).”

An EU 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.

Pakistan’s military media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced the verdicts of civilians’ military trials over the May 9 riots a few days after the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench conditionally allowed military courts to announce their verdicts.

Ten-year sentences were handed down to 14 of the 25 persons convicted, with one each given nine-year, seven-year, and three-year terms; six years to two; four years to another two; and two years to four people.

Senior journalist and late night host Aftab Iqbal has gone missing after detention by airport authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), his daughter said Monday.

According to Ayesha Noor Iqbal, the journalist was arrested from an airport in Dubai upon his return from the United Kingdom (UK).

“He returned from the UK with my mother and the immigration authorities took him away. Later, they said he has a clean chit from the UAE govt but they gave no further details of where and how he is,” she said.

Earlier, Iqbal’s brother Junaid Iqbal also claimed that his eldest brother was “nowhere to be seen” since after his detention at the airport.

While there has been no official statement on his arrest, the journalist had earlier this month made headlines for hurling accusations at former Pakistani army chief Gen (r) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Talking about his hit satirical show that was taken off air by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in 2022, Iqbal had claimed that he made a parody song with visuals related to the then chief of army staff (COAS), which offended him. 

He said had he not made the parody, his show would never have gone off the air. 

“PEMRA is the instrument of a fascist imported govt which can’t tolerate any justifiable criticisms. My Programme, which is recognised as satire, has been forced off the air. Is this democracy worse than Mussolini’s fascist Italy? I intend to contest these illegal actions on every forum [sic],” the journalist had said in a statement in 2022.

Following the announcement, several journalists, politicians, and activists had called on the government to review the action, citing freedom of expression concerns.

Syed Sajid Mehdi, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Division, has on Sunday urged people to use the internet “less” and for “important matters only”. 

His unique suggestion was a solution to recurrent internet shutdowns and slow speed in Pakistan.

The parliamentary secretary appeared on Dawn News’ Doosra Rukh, where he candidly likened the internet in Pakistan to a road that got congested as more people used it, resulting in slow traffic. 

“There are large loads on our internet, [just] like on a congested road,” he said while adding, “Cars move slower if there is congestion. If 10 people use a road meant for five, it will slow everything down.”

Sajjad Mehdi also claimed that Pakistan’s fibre network only has a capacity of 15 percent compared to India’s 45 percent, stating that this is another reason for the slow internet.

Moreover, the parliamentary secretary emphasised that work was underway to resolve the issue of the internet’s slow speed across the country and it will be completed “very quickly”.

The host, Nadir Guramani, asked the secretary if he thinks that the rise in population was also the reason behind internet slowdowns. 

“Like I said, if more people use the roads then of course it will slow down,” Mehdi stressed, adding that this issue would be fixed within three to four months.

Furthermore, Mehdi said that curbing what he called the “unnecessary” use of the internet would improve its speed.

“I’m not saying stop using it, but use it only for important purposes like work, and not for unnecessary purposes,” he commented.

The show host went on to ask him if he thinks that people in Pakistan were using the internet unnecessarily to which he replied that people should use the internet mostly for important work. 

“It will be beneficial if people don’t use the internet too much or for negative thinking”, he said.
The parliamentary secretary also disapproved the claim that internet slowdowns were causing financial losses to the IT sector of the country.

Notably, Pakis­tan Software Houses Association (P@sha) Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed on December 3 said, “A one-hour internet slowdown might not have any significant impact on people, but disturbed services to a client in any stock market, airport service, bank, etc., in advanced countries would eventually lead to loss of confidence in Pakistan’s IT sector.”

The parliamentary secretary also denied having been informed about the loss by Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), “We have not been told officially that the shutdown has caused financial losses. Nobody has filed any requests or complaints about financial losses.

“If anyone has suffered personal losses, then that is a different matter entirely,” he concluded.

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.

Senior journalist and former information minister Murtaza Solangi has claimed that May 9 rioters convicted by military courts, have pointed the finger at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.

As many as 25 PTI activists involved in attacks on military installations on May 9, 2023, were convicted and sentenced, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement issued Saturday.

“All evidence was present against the culprits who were sentenced today. Not only did they confessed to their crimes in front of the judge, but also confessed to being incited to commit those crimes, by different leaders of the PTI,” he wrote in a post on X.

The journalist went on to claim that among those leaders was Imran Khan as well.

Scores of PTI workers were arrested and more than 100 civilians are facing military trials for last year’s riots over the arrest of former prime minister and PTI founder Khan.

“Field General Court Martial have in [the] first phase promulgated the punishments to 25 accused,” the ISPR said in its statement issued hours before Solangi’s claims.

The statement from the military’s media wing came as the PTI maintains it had no role in attacks on state installations, including the ransacking of the General Headquarters (GHQ).

While the PTI also demands a judicial commission to probe last year’s events, Saturday’s statement added that the promulgation of the sentences of remaining accused was also being done and will be announced shortly as and when the due process is complete.

“All convicts retain the right to appeal and other legal recourses, as guaranteed by the law and the Constitution,” the ISPR said.

 It added that the nation on May 9 witnessed tragic incidents of politically provoked violence and arson at multiple places, marking a dark chapter in the history of Pakistan.

Building on a sustained narrative of hate and lies, the ISPR said, politically orchestrated attacks were carried out on the installations of the armed forces, including the desecration of martyrs’ monuments.

“Many accused are also being tried in various Anti-Terrorism Courts and their cases are being pursued as per the law, however, justice would truly be fully served once the mastermind and planners of 9th May Tragedy are punished as per the Constitution and laws of the land,” the statement read.

“State of Pakistan will continue to vigoursly pursue dispensation of justice to ensure establishment of inviolable writ of the State, so as to uproot this evil of violence driven disruptive and destructive politics based on hate, divisiveness and baseless propaganda,” it concluded.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif is open to negotiating with political rival and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, a private media outlet has claimed amid reports of a high-level backdoor meeting between the government and PTI.

According to reports, significant progress has been made as the government, PTI and the establishment have all acknowledged the need for dialogue.

Nawaz, who had previously rejected the possibility of talks with the PTI along with his daughter and Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz, has now showed willingness to negotiate with Khan, reports quoted a senior PML-N leader as saying.

A high-level backchannel meeting, a separate report claimed, was also held between the government and the PTI.

It quoted sources as saying that the meeting was attended by two important players of the government, including a minister and another official, whereas the PTI was represented by a key party leader.

On the outcome of the meeting held Wednesday night, the report added, PTI would have to choose whether it wished to continue with the politics of agitation and confrontation or it really wanted reconciliation.

While there currently are no visible signs that official negotiations between all stakeholders will begin any time soon, events from the night of November 26 during PTI’s violent march on Islamabad, remain a bone of contention between both sides.

Despite the events, reports said, both the government and PTI agree that reducing political tensions through dialogue was essential.

The PTI founder has already formed a committee to hold talks with the government which, reports said, reflects the party’s realisation that its current policy of confrontation could no longer be continued.

Similarly, the government and the establishment recognise that the PTI remains a popular party, and it cannot be eliminated via continuous conflict.

According to reports, both sides will have to compromise. The PTI must recognise the government’s mandate and abandon its immediate demand for elections, while the government must step back from its efforts to exclude Khan from politics.

It may be noted that National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has also offered to mediate between both sides, saying that his office and home were always available for it.

Following the speaker’s statement, reports quoted sources as saying that a parliamentary committee was likely to be formed to initiate formal negotiations. The committee will be entrusted with full authority to deliberate on key negotiation points and make decisions regarding the talks.

After months of deliberations over military court’s eligibility to try and sentence civilians, as many as 25 persons have been convicted and sentenced for their involvement in May 9, 2023, attacks on state installations.

Scores of PTI workers were arrested and more than 100 civilians are facing military trials for last year’s riots over the arrest of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.

“Field General Court Martial have in [the] first phase promulgated the punishments to 25 accused,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement released Saturday.

The statement from the military’s media wing comes as the party maintains it had no role in attacks on state installations, including the ransacking of the General Headquarters (GHQ).

While the PTI also demands a judicial commission to probe last year’s events, Saturday’s statement added that the promulgation of the sentences of remaining accused was also being done and will be announced shortly as and when the due process is complete.

“All convicts retain the right to appeal and other legal recourses, as guaranteed by the law and the Constitution,” the ISPR said.

It added that the nation on May 9 witnessed tragic incidents of politically provoked violence and arson at multiple places, marking a dark chapter in the history of Pakistan.

Building on a sustained narrative of hate and lies, the ISPR said, politically orchestrated attacks were carried out on the installations of the armed forces including the desecration of martyrs’ monuments.

“Many accused are also being tried in various Anti-Terrorism Courts and their cases are being pursued as per the law, however, justice would truly be fully served once the mastermind and planners of 9th May Tragedy are punished as per the Constitution and laws of the land,” the statement read.

“State of Pakistan will continue to vigoursly pursue dispensation of justice to ensure establishment of inviolable writ of the State, so as to uproot this evil of violence driven disruptive and destructive politics based on hate, divisiveness and baseless propaganda,” it concluded.

Details of convictions and sentences are as follows:

1.    Jan Muhammad Khan: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.2.    Muhammad Imran: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
3.    Raja Muhammad Ehsan: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in GHQ attack incident.
4.    Rehmat Ullah: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Punjab Regimental Centre Mardan incident.
5.    Anwar Khan: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in PAF Base Mianwali incident.
6.    Muhammad Afaq Khan: 9 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Bannu Cantt incident.
7.    Daud Khan: 7 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Chakdara Fort incident.
8.    Faheem Haider: 6 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
9.    Zahid Khan: 4 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Multan Cantt Check Post incident.
10.    Yasir Nawaz: 2 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Punjab Regimental Centre Mardan incident.
11.    Abdul Hadi: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
12.    Ali Shan: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
13.    Daud Khan: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
14.    Umar Farooq: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in GHQ attack incident.
15.    Babar Jamal: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in PAF Base Mianwali incident.
16.    Muhammad Hashir Khan: 6 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
17.    Muhammad Ashiq Khan: 4 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
18.    Khuram Shahzad: 3 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Multan Cantt Check Post incident.
19.    Muhammad Bilawal: 2 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
20.    Said Alam: 2 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Punjab Regimental Centre Mardan incident.
21.    Laeeq Ahmed: 2 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in ISI Office Faisalabad incident.
22.    Ali Iftikhar: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
23.    Zia Ur Rehman: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Jinnah House incident.
24.    Adnan Ahmed: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Punjab Regimental Centre Mardan incident.
25.    Shakir Ullah: 10 years rigorous imprisonment for involvement in Punjab Regimental Centre Mardan incident.