The Islamabad Court has corrected a section of its judgment in a social media case against rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha. The amendment removes a reference to certain countries as “terrorist states,” the court confirmed on Friday.
The couple had been convicted last week in a case related to posts and reposts on X. Investigators described the content as “anti-state”. The case was filed in August 2025 by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. Authorities alleged the posts were aimed at undermining state institutions and aligning with proscribed organizations or individuals.
Earlier, the Islamabad Court judgment had noted that the accused described Pakistan as a “terrorist state.” The judgment also stated that only Cuba, North Korea, Iran, and Syria are officially recognized under that label.
During a press briefing, a Foreign Office spokesperson clarified Pakistan’s position, saying: “We have seen the judgment. These are views of the learned judge. Pakistan does not subscribe to this opinion. This kind of designation does not exist under UN law or international practice.”
The court order dated January 27 explained that NCCIA Special Public Prosecutor Muhammad Usman Rana had filed an application on January 24 to correct a clerical mistake. The sentence was included in the final judgment due to a typographical error. The stenographer confirmed it was an honest mistake during printing.
Citing Section 152 of the Criminal Procedure, the Islamabad Court noted that clerical or arithmetical mistakes in judgments may be corrected at any time. The correction ensures the judgment is accurate and reflects legal and factual positions.
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This development clarifies Pakistan’s official stance on international designations and highlights the importance of precision in judicial documentation.
