Pakistani Human Rights Lawyers Sentenced to 17 Years Over Social Media Posts

• Pakistani human rights lawyers Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha received 17-year prison sentences each for social media posts deemed hostile to the state.
• The verdict, delivered by Judge Afzal Majoka, followed their arrest in Islamabad and a boycotted video link hearing.
• Court documents allege Mazari posted tweets promoting the agenda of banned Baloch separatist groups and the Pakistani Taliban.
• The case originated from a complaint filed with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, accusing the couple of maligning the state.
• International and domestic rights groups, including Amnesty International, condemned the arrests and called for their immediate release, citing judicial harassment.

Why It Matters: Pakistani human rights lawyers Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were sentenced to 17 years for anti-state social media posts.