Applications seeking suspension of their sentences in controversial tweets case have been set for hearing on Thursday
Lawyer and rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The Islamabad High Court has fixed for hearing on Thursday the appeals filed by rights activist and lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, against their 17-year prison sentences in the controversial social media posts case.
Justice Muhammad Asif will hear the appeals. The Registrar’s Office of the high court scheduled the pleas, along with their applications seeking suspension of thesentences.
The case was registered in August last year over posts and reposts on X, formerly Twitter, which investigators described as undermining state institutions and aligning with proscribed organisations.
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 charge related to hate speech.
The court convicted both under Section 9 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and sentenced them to five years of rigorous imprisonment each, along with a fine of Rs5 million each. In case of default on payment, they would undergo one year of simple imprisonment.
They were also convicted under Section 10 of the same law and awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each, with a fine of Rs30 million each. Failure to pay the fine would entail 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 of rigorous imprisonment each, coupled with a fine of Rs1 million each. In default of payment, they would have to undergo six months of simple imprisonment.
In their petitions, the couple has requested the court to suspend their sentences and release them on bail.
The two subsequently challenged the trial court’s January 24 order that was widely criticised by politicians, lawyers and civil society.
The conviction has also drawn international attention. Amnesty International issued an urgent action appeal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on February 2, calling for the couple’s immediate and unconditional release.
On February 4, United Nations experts also expressed alarm over the verdict. Five UN special rapporteurs said the couple had been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for “simply exercising rights guaranteed by international human rights law”.
