Brussels [Belgium], January 30 (ANI): The European Union expressed concern over Pakistan's sentencing of two human rights lawyers over their social media posts, describing it as a setback to democratic norms. Pakistan dismissed the criticism, calling the matter an internal legal issue, according to a report by Samaa TV.

On Thursday, the European Union censured Pakistan following the conviction of human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha. The EU said the verdict contradicts the democratic principles Pakistan has pledged to uphold at the international level. Mazari and her husband Chattha were detained last Friday while en route to attend a court hearing. They were later placed in two weeks of judicial remand after being booked under Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

Authorities alleged that the couple shared content on X that supposedly promoted ethnic divisions and depicted Pakistan's military as being involved in 'terrorism.' Both lawyers rejected the accusations and asserted that their posts constituted lawful expression. Anouar El Anouni, the EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, said the conviction undermines freedom of expression and the independence of lawyers, as reported by Samaa TV.

He emphasised that these principles are not only core democratic values but also part of Pakistan's international human rights obligations.

Pakistan is among the largest beneficiaries of the European Union's Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which grants duty-free access to most European markets. In exchange, beneficiary states must implement 27 international conventions related to human rights, labour rights, environmental protection, and good governance. Pakistan's GSP+ status has previously come under review. In April 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution urging an immediate reassessment, citing concerns over violence against religious minorities, curbs on media freedom, and wider human rights concerns, Samaa TV reported.

Responding to the EU's comments, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi termed the case a 'domestic affair' of Pakistan. He said the conviction occurred under national laws through a judicial process. Andrabi stressed that the convicted lawyers retain the right to appeal and seek legal remedies. He added that although Pakistan continues engagement with the EU on various matters, it maintains a clear boundary regarding internal legal and judicial issues, as noted by the Samaa TV report. (ANI)