FO rebuffs EU criticism over 'domestic affair' of Imaan, Hadi convictions
Lawyer and rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The Foreign Office (FO) rebuffed criticism by the European Union (EU) over the convictions of human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, saying the issue was a "domestic affair" of the country.
The two were convicted in Islamabad last week in a case linked to alleged posts and reposts on X that investigators described as “anti-state”. The case was registered in August 2025 by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, with allegations that the content was aimed at undermining state institutions and aligning with proscribed organisations or individuals.
The convictions were widely condemned by the legal community, politicians and civil society.
Adding to the criticism, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Anouar El Anouni said in a post on X earlier today that the convictions went against freedom of expression and independence of lawyers.
"These are not only key democratic principles but also part of Pakistan's international human rights commitments."
The EU Delegation to Pakistan amplified the statement in a post on X, sharing the spokesperson’s message on the case.
Statement by EU Spokesperson on the conviction of Human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha. https://t.co/Vzc6yXI6uz
Questioned about the matter while speaking at his weekly press briefing, FO Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said: "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. As such, there is domestic remedy available to these individuals."
He added that while Pakistan remained engaged with the EU on all issues, "we do make a distinction about our domestic affairs".
The couple were arrested on January 23 near the underpass outside Serena Hotel while travelling to the district courts, and later sent to 14 days’ judicial remand by an anti-terrorism court.
A district and sessions court later sentenced both to a combined 17 years’ rigorous imprisonment each: five years under PECA Section 9 (plus a Rs5m fine), 10 years under Section 10 (plus Rs30m), and two years under Section 26-A (plus Rs1m), with additional jail time in case of non-payment of fines. The judge also acquitted them of the PECA hate-speech charge under Section 11, saying prosecution witnesses did not support that allegation.
Read more: Imaan Mazari alleges mistreatment as court hears tweet case via video link
During proceedings conducted via video link, Mazari alleged mistreatment in custody and announced a boycott of the hearing. The judgment noted the pair were already in custody in another case and said they would remain in jail to serve their sentences, with credit for time spent in detention under Section 382-B of the Criminal Procedure Code.