ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected criticism from the European Union over the conviction of two human rights lawyers, saying the case was a domestic legal matter handled under local laws and through due judicial process.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the trial and conviction of Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha had taken place in accordance with Pakistan’s legal framework.
“This is a domestic affair of Pakistan. The trial and conviction took place under our local laws through a judicial process. The relevant individuals have a right to appeal and have a right to a judicial recourse,” Andrabi told a weekly press briefing on Thursday.
He added that legal remedies remain available to the convicted lawyers.
“As such, there is a domestic remedy available to these individuals. Whilst we remain engaged with the EU on all issues, we do make a distinction about our domestic affairs,” he said.
The comments came after the EU expressed concern over the conviction of the two lawyers for their social media activity, calling the ruling a setback for democratic principles.
EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said the conviction undermined freedom of expression and the independence of lawyers, arguing that these principles form part of Pakistan’s international human rights commitments. Pakistan has rejected the allegation, saying the case was handled under domestic law through an independent judicial process.
A trial court in Islamabad last week sentenced rights activist and lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, to a combined 17 years in prison after convicting them on multiple charges linked to social media posts that prosecutors said amounted to an anti-state narrative under cybercrime laws.
In a 22-page ruling, District and Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka found both defendants guilty under several provisions of Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, while acquitting them of one charge related to hate speech.
Authorities accused the couple of posting content on X that allegedly incited ethnic divisions and amounted to anti-state activity.
