EU special envoy unhappy over military trial of civilians in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights, Olof Skoog, has voiced concerns over the trial of civilians in military courts during his ongoing visit to Pakistan but refrained from commenting on the case of jailed former prime Minister Imran Khan.

Speaking to a select group of journalists in Islamabad, including this reporter, Skoog emphasised the EU’s commitment to democracy, human rights, and international humanitarian law. His visit comes ahead of a key GSP+ monitoring mission in June, which will assess Pakistan’s compliance with human rights obligations linked to its preferential trade access to European markets.

During his visit, Skoog is engaging a diverse array of stakeholders, including Deputy PM/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, COAS Gen Asim Munir, Minister of Law Justice and Human Rights Azam Nazeem Tarar, Federal Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Minister for Minorities Sardar Arora, minority groups including the Ahmadi and Christian communities, civil society, business community, media, human rights defenders, civil society and media representatives.

These meetings are being held in the context of the upcoming GSP+ monitoring mission; GSP+ enables Pakistan to export goods to the European market duty-free, significantly bolstering the country’s economy.

In his discussion with journalists, Skoog highlighted the overarching goal of his visit: to promote democracy and international humanitarian law, and engage globally on human rights. “There are ongoing discussions about freedom of expression and media freedom in Pakistan”, he said, “but before delving into that, I’ll outline my mission’s objectives”. Skoog explained his intention to use his mandate to foster direct engagement with countries, moving beyond standard formal dialogues to address core issues, even in the absence of a dedicated human rights dialogue at his level.

The EU’s GSP+ framework, as detailed by Skoog, serves as a strong platform for collaboration on human rights, with Pakistan as a major beneficiary. “The GSP+ is a significant economic boost, facilitating Pakistan to become the EU’s largest export market, surpassing both China and the US”, said Skoog.

He emphasised the substantial economic impact of nearly a billion dollars in tariff exemptions, underlining its importance to Pakistan’s economy. The GSP+ framework demands adherence to international human rights obligations, and its scope extends beyond labour conditions and child labour to encompass a broader range of human rights issues. Skoog aims to address these key topics with Pakistani officials during his visit.