Imaan Mazari, Husband Challenge 17-Year Conviction Over Social Media Posts

ISLAMABAD – Human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, have filed an appeal in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging their 17-year convictions in a case linked to controversial social media posts.

In their petition, the couple requested the high court to declare the trial court’s January 24 verdict null and void, suspend the conviction, and grant them bail. The appeal contends that the trial court ignored legal procedures, issuing a verdict while a transfer petition was still pending before the IHC.

The petition also alleges that the trial court restricted the couple’s right to defense, failed to ensure transparency during proceedings, and ignored claims that trial questions were pre-shared. The couple further claims violence during arrest and says proper cross-examination was impossible from jail without access to case files.

The case originated from alleged posts and reposts on X (formerly Twitter), which authorities described as “anti-state.” The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) registered the case under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, alleging the posts were intended to incite divisions and defame state institutions.

The verdict has attracted global attention. On February 2, Amnesty International called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the couple’s immediate and unconditional release. On February 4, five UN special rapporteurs condemned the lengthy sentences, stating the couple was punished for exercising internationally guaranteed human rights.