Pakistan Sentences Human Rights Lawyers to 17 Years Over Social Media Posts

• Human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were sentenced to 17 years in prison on January 24, 2026, for social media posts criticizing the Pakistani military.
• Prosecutors utilized the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), originally designed for cybercrime, to charge the pair with cyber terrorism and spreading false information.
• Legal observers and human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the UN, condemned the trial as a miscarriage of justice marked by serious procedural flaws.
• The verdict is viewed by supporters and rights groups as a targeted effort to intimidate activists and legal professionals who challenge state institutions.

Trial Irregularities and Due Process Violations

• The proceedings moved from indictment to sentencing in under three months, significantly faster than typical PECA cases.
• Defense lawyers reported being denied full access to case files and adequate opportunities to cross-examine prosecution witnesses.
• The couple was arrested while heading to court, despite having protective bail, and the judge reportedly held hearings without their presence.
• The final sentencing was delivered in under a minute after the defense boycotted the hearing due to alleged mistreatment in custody.

Weaponization of the PECA Law

• While introduced in 2016 to combat digital crime, PECA is increasingly used to silence dissent and critical reporting.
• The law's vague language—particularly regarding "false information" that harms national security—allows authorities to prosecute critics without clear evidentiary standards.
• Previous journalists and activists, including Asad Ali Toor and Jalila Haider, have faced similar legal harassment, reflecting a broader pattern of state-led intimidation.

Wider Implications

• The sentencing has sparked protests from bar associations across Pakistan, who fear the case threatens the legal profession's ability to represent marginalized individuals.
• International bodies like the EU and the UN have criticized the use of cybercrime laws to penalize free expression, asserting that public institutions must tolerate scrutiny in a democracy.
• Supporters believe the sentence is intended to send a "chilling message" to civil society, particularly given Mazari’s history of defending high-profile activists like Mahrang Baloch.