Brussels, Jan. 30 -- 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 Pa...