Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday issued notices in the high-profile case involving human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband advocate Hadi Ali Chattha who have challenged their convictions related to controversial social media posts.
Justice Muhammad Asif released a two-page written order following the hearing directing responses to the appeals against the January 24 verdict that sentenced the couple to a combined 17 years in prison under Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Mazari and Chattha were sentenced to five years each under Section 9 for glorifying an offence 10 years each under Section 10 for cyberterrorism and two years each under Section 26 A for spreading false information, with all sentences running concurrently.
The couple’s counsel argued that the trial court’s ruling was legally flawed. The IHC also noted applications seeking suspension of the sentences, though no early hearing date has been set. The court instructed the registrar to compile the case’s paper books for detailed review.
Separately an anti-terrorism court granted bail to the couple in another case involving a police confrontation with sureties of Rs10,000 each. State lawyer Ali Azad claimed the charges were baseless and fabricated.
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