Applications to stay their sentences in a controversial tweet case are set for hearing on Thursday
Lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The Islamabad High Court on Thursday determined the appeals filed by rights activist and lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, to hear their 17-year prison sentences in the controversial social media case.
Judge Muhammad Asif will hear the appeals. The Registrar’s Office for the High Court scheduled pleas alongside their applications to suspend the sentences.
The case was registered last August due to posts and reposts on X, formerly Twitter, which investigators described as undermining state institutions and coordinating with banned organizations.
In a detailed 22-page judgment authored by District and Sessions Judge Islamabad Afzal Majoka, the court convicted both accused on multiple charges linked to social media posts that the prosecution argued amounted to an anti-state narrative under cybercrime laws, while acquitting them of one hate-related speech charge.
The court convicted both under Section 9 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and sentenced them to five years rigorous imprisonment each along with a fine of Rs5 million each. In case of non-payment, they will incur one year of simple imprisonment.
They were also convicted under Section 10 of the same Act and awarded 10 years rigorous imprisonment each with a fine of Rs30 million each. Failure to pay the fine would result in an additional two years of simple imprisonment. The court also convicted them under Section 26-A of the Act and sentenced them to two years rigorous imprisonment each, coupled with a fine of Rs1 million each. In default of payment, they had to undergo six months of simple imprisonment.
In their petitions, the couple has asked the court to suspend their sentences and release them on bail.
The two subsequently challenged the high court’s ruling of 24 January, which was widely criticized by politicians, lawyers and civil society.
The verdict has also attracted international attention. Amnesty International issued an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on 2 February calling for the couple’s immediate and unconditional release.
On February 4, UN experts also expressed alarm at the verdict. Five UN special rapporteurs said the pair had been sentenced to long prison terms for “simply exercising rights guaranteed by international human rights law”.
