Motions to have their sentences suspended in the controversial tweets case were heard Thursday.
Lawyer and rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The Islamabad High Court has scheduled hearing for Thursday on the appeals filed by rights activist and lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, against their 17-year prison sentences in the controversial social media posts case.
Judge Muhammad Asif will hear the appeals. The High Court Clerk’s Office scheduled the pleas, along with their requests for suspended sentences.
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 banned organizations.
In a detailed 22-page judgment written by District and Sessions Judge Islamabad Afzal Majoka, the court convicted the two accused on multiple charges related to social media posts that the prosecution said amounted to an anti-state narrative within the meaning of cybercrime laws, while acquitting them of a charge related to hate speech.
The court convicted them under Section 9 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for five years each, along with a fine of Rs 5 million each. In the event of non-payment, they would be liable to one year of simple imprisonment.
They were also convicted under Section 10 of the same Act and sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment each, along with a fine of Rs 30 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 each to two years’ rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine of one million rupees each. Failing to pay, they would have to suffer six months of simple imprisonment.
In their petitions, the couple asked the court to suspend their sentence and release them on bail.
The two then challenged the lower court’s January 24 order, which was widely criticized by politicians, lawyers and civil society.
The conviction also attracted international attention. Amnesty International issued an urgent call for action 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 concern about this verdict. Five UN special rapporteurs said the couple had been sentenced to long prison terms for “the simple exercise of rights guaranteed by international human rights law”.
