Canada 'concerned' over acquittal of men who attacked Malala Yousafzai

Canada says it is "gravely concerned" by reports that Pakistan has secretly acquitted eight men responsible for the 2012 attack on "honorary Canadian" Malala Yousafzai.

On Friday, a Pakistani court freed eight of 10 men charged with masterminding the shooting of Yousafzai, Reuters reported.

“We call on Pakistani authorities to clarify this situation immediately, as Canada views this crime against an honorary Canadian as an assault on our values and human dignity," Minister of Foreign Affairs Rob Nicholson said.

Pakistani Taliban militants claimed responsibility for attacking Malala in 2012 as she travelled home from school in Swat, northwest of the capital Islamabad. She was shot in the head and airlifted to Britain for treatment, where she now lives. Two other schoolgirls were also wounded.

Senior police official Salim Khan said the men were freed because there was not enough evidence to connect them to the attack.

Police had said in April that all 10 had been convicted and jailed for 25 years each in a trial held behind closed doors.

"The only reason for their release was lack of proof against them," Khan said.

The case has raised further questions over police competence, accountability and secret trials in Pakistan.

Last year, Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel peace prize for her work campaigning for the right of children to education.