Rights group raises alarm over Pakistan court verdicts

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 8 January 2026 |  JP Staff Report

International Human Rights Foundation says an Anti-Terrorism Court in Pakistan convicted several journalists abroad in absentia without notice or access to evidence. The group says the proceedings raise serious due process and judicial independence concerns.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — The International Human Rights Foundation has expressed serious concern over reported convictions and prison sentences issued in absentia by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Pakistan against several Pakistani journalists and political commentators currently living abroad.

In a statement, the organization said those named include Adil Raja, Shaheen Sehbai, Dr. Moeed Pirzada, Syed Akbar Hussain, Wajahat Saeed Khan, Sabir Shakir, and Syed Haider Raza Mehdi. According to the foundation, the individuals were convicted without being notified of charges or proceedings and without access to evidence or an effective opportunity to defend themselves.

Concerns over due process and fair trial rights

The foundation said the reported proceedings raise grave concerns about due process, judicial independence, and compliance with Pakistan’s constitutional protections as well as its obligations under international human-rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It stated that legal processes conducted without transparency or basic procedural safeguards cannot be considered legitimate adjudication.

The group linked the reported court actions to wider international concern over recent constitutional developments in Pakistan. It cited public warnings by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, who has said that hastily adopted constitutional amendments in Pakistan seriously undermine judicial independence and raise concerns about military accountability and the rule of law.

International scrutiny of constitutional changes

The International Human Rights Foundation also referenced assessments by the International Commission of Jurists, which has described Pakistan’s 26th Constitutional Amendment as a blow to judicial independence and the rule of law, warning that it increases political influence over judicial appointments and administration. The foundation noted additional reporting on subsequent constitutional measures that critics argue weaken the Supreme Court’s constitutional role while expanding military authority and immunity.

According to the statement, the use of counterterrorism laws against journalists and dissenting voices, particularly those living in exile, reflects a broader pattern of judicial harassment and transnational repression. The organization said such measures risk being used to intimidate critics beyond Pakistan’s borders.

Calls to the government and the international community

The foundation called on the Government of Pakistan to ensure full respect for due process and fair trial guarantees, to publish any written judgments and legal reasoning relied upon, and to provide full disclosure of alleged evidence and the legal basis for conducting proceedings without notice or participation. It also urged authorities to cease the use of counterterrorism frameworks to target journalistic activity and peaceful dissent.

The statement further urged the international community, including press-freedom organizations and relevant United Nations mechanisms, to closely monitor the situation and engage where necessary to protect journalists facing what it described as politically motivated persecution. It emphasized that freedom of expression and the safety of journalists are foundational to democratic societies and that their erosion anywhere is a matter of international concern.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting based on a public statement issued by the International Human Rights Foundation, with references to publicly documented remarks by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and assessments by the International Commission of Jurists.

PHOTO: By Sergei Tokmakov, Esq. https://Terms.Law from Pixabay

KEY POINTS:

• Anti-Terrorism Court convicted several Pakistani journalists and commentators in absentia.
• Named individuals include Adil Raja, Shaheen Sehbai, Moeed Pirzada and Wajahat Saeed Khan.
• Foundation says defendants were not notified, had no access to evidence or effective defence.
• Group warns actions violate due process, judicial independence and international obligations.
• Concerns linked to recent constitutional amendments and UN High Commissioner warnings.