Human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, have approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to challenge their conviction in a case linked to controversial content shared on social media. Through their appeal, the couple has requested the court to set aside the trial court’s January 24 judgment, suspend the sentence, and grant them bail.
In their petition, they argue that the trial court did not follow proper legal procedures while conducting the case. They maintain that the verdict was announced despite a transfer application already pending before the IHC, adding that issuing a decision while such a request is under review is legally improper.
The appeal also claims that their right to a fair defence was restricted and that the proceedings lacked transparency. According to the petition, when a state lawyer alleged that certain questions had been disclosed in advance, the court failed to investigate the matter or order an inquiry.
Furthermore, the couple alleges that excessive force was used during their arrest and that claims of assault were not properly examined when they appeared in court through video link. They also raised concerns about the fairness of the trial, questioning how effective cross-examination could take place from jail without full access to relevant case documents.
Earlier, a district and sessions court in Islamabad sentenced both Mazari and Chattha to 17 years in prison. The charges stem from alleged posts and reposts on X (formerly Twitter), which authorities labelled as anti-state under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. Investigators claimed the content aimed to create division and damage the reputation of state institutions.
The ruling has sparked global concern. Amnesty International urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure their immediate release, while several United Nations human rights experts also criticized the lengthy sentences, saying the couple was being punished for exercising fundamental rights protected under international law.
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