Amnesty issues urgent action appeal to PM Shehbaz for Imaan, Hadi’s release

Human rights organisation Amnesty International issued an urgent action appeal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday calling for the immediate and unconditional release of human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha.

The two were convicted in Islamabad last month linked to alleged posts and reposts on X that investigators described as “anti-state”. The case was registered in August 2025 by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, with allegations that the content was aimed at undermining state institutions and aligning with proscribed organisations or individuals.

The convictions were widely condemned by the legal community, politicians and civil society.

Today, Amnesty issued an urgent action appeal and called on the public to write to PM Shehbaz about the couple’s release.

In model letter written to the premier, Amnesty recounted the circumstances of their arrest and conviction, saying they were “being targeted solely for their advocacy and work defending human rights in the country”.

It said their trial was conducted with “unusual haste”, adding that they were “consistently denied the right to cross-examine witnesses and bring evidence against them”.

Amnesty also noted that their conviction was announced while a transfer application was still pending against the presiding judge, who the couipled had accused of bias.

The organisation praised them as lawyers who had defended the rights of “countless people” and who were currently representing journalists, activists and victims of enforced disappearances and blasphemy allegations.

“Their imprisonment impacts many of these people who deserve the right be represented by their lawyers. The use of laws such as PECA to silence and criminalise peaceful dissent is a matter of grave concern and a clear violation of Pakistan’s obligations under international human rights law.

“I urge your government to immediately and unconditionally release Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha and quash their convictions. I also call on you to end the misuse of the criminal justice system, including cybercrime laws, to target human rights defenders. I trust your commitment to justice and human rights will guide your actions to address these grave concerns,” the organisation said.

Last week, European Union Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Anouar El Anouni said in a post on X that the convictions went against freedom of expression and independence of lawyers.

“These are not only key democratic principles but also part of Pakistan’s international human rights commitments.”

The EU Delegation to Pakistan amplified the statement in a post on X, sharing the spokesperson’s message on the case.

The Foreign Office (FO) had rebuffed criticism, saying the issue was a “domestic affair” of the country.

Questioned about the matter while speaking at his weekly press briefing, FO Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi had said: “This is a domestic affair of Pakistan, the trial and conviction took place under our local laws through a judicial process. The relevant individuals have a right to appeal and have a right to a judicial recourse. As such, there is domestic remedy available to these individuals.”

He added that while Pakistan remained engaged with the EU on all issues, “we do make a distinction about our domestic affairs”.

The couple were arrested on January 23 near the underpass outside Serena Hotel while travelling to the district courts, and later sent to 14 days’ judicial remand by an anti-terrorism court.

A district and sessions court later sentenced both to a combined 17 years’ rigorous imprisonment each: five years under PECA Section 9 (plus a Rs5m fine), 10 years under Section 10 (plus Rs30m), and two years under Section 26-A (plus Rs1m), with additional jail time in case of non-payment of fines. The judge also acquitted them of the PECA hate-speech charge under Section 11, saying prosecution witnesses did not support that allegation.

Read more: Imaan Mazari alleges mistreatment as court hears tweet case via video link

During proceedings conducted via video link, Mazari alleged mistreatment in custody and announced a boycott of the hearing. The judgment noted the pair were already in custody in another case and said they would remain in jail to serve their sentences, with credit for time spent in detention under Section 382-B of the Criminal Procedure Code.