ISLAMABAD, Nov 8 : The UN Human Rights Committee has raised concerns about the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, which prosecutes civilians in military courts and urged Islamabad to take immediate measures to review legislation concerning military court legislation, remove civilian jurisdiction and abolish death penalty authority.
The committee has also called upon Pakistan to ensure compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to ensure a fair trial, Dawn reported on Friday.
Releasing its findings after examining Pakistan’s case at its latest review, which concluded in Geneva on Thursday, the UN committee said Pakistan should also release on bail all civilians detained under the jurisdiction of military courts, .
Expressing concern about the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, which prosecutes civilians in military courts, the UN Committee cited a high conviction rate, with most cases resulting in death penalties between 2015 and 2019.
While the UN committee acknowledged the Pakistan’s delegation’s information on the 26th Amendment and its adoption process regarding the independence of the judiciary, it expressed concern about the lack of prior, broad, and transparent consultations with judges, prosecutors, lawyers, bar associations and civil society.
The UN committee regretted the lack of information on the legal framework and institutional mechanisms to guarantee the independence of prosecutors and on the mechanisms for their recruitment, appointment, promotion, disciplinary action and dismissal, the Dawn report added. (UNI)
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