Pakistani Human Rights Lawyer, Husband Get 17 Years for Social Media Posts

• Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, a human rights lawyer couple, were sentenced to 17 years in prison over social media posts.
• The case stemmed from an August 2025 complaint by NCCIA, accusing Mazari-Hazir of propagating narratives aligned with terrorist groups and Chattha of reposting her content.
• They were indicted on October 30 last year, arrested on Friday in Islamabad, and sent to Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, on a 14-day judicial remand.
• Additional District and Sessions Court Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka announced the sentence after the couple boycotted proceedings, alleging torture and lack of food/water.
• The couple received sentences of five, ten, and two years under various sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

Why It Matters: A Pakistani human rights lawyer and her husband received 17-year sentences for social media posts.