Event Summary
On 23 January 2026, human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha were arrested in Islamabad in connection with multiple cases linked to their social media activity and court-related protests. The couple was taken into custody while traveling between court hearings and later placed on judicial remand. Their arrest occurred amid an already ongoing trial concerning allegedly “anti-state” content shared online, prosecuted under provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and other penal laws.
Subsequently, on 24 January 2026, a district court in Islamabad delivered a verdict in the social-media posts case, sentencing both Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha to lengthy prison terms along with heavy fines. The court held that their online statements constituted offenses under cybercrime and public order laws. The couple appeared in some proceedings through video link from jail, and concerns were raised by their legal team regarding the conduct of hearings and their treatment in custody.
The developments sparked widespread reaction within Pakistan’s legal community. Bar associations announced boycotts and protests, describing the arrests and sentencing as judicial harassment and an attack on the independence of lawyers. Civil society organizations and human rights groups also condemned the actions, warning that the case sets a dangerous precedent for criminalizing dissent and restricting freedom of expression.
International human rights organizations echoed these concerns, calling on Pakistani authorities to ensure due process and end what they described as the misuse of cybercrime laws against lawyers and activists. The case has become emblematic of shrinking civic space and increasing legal pressure on those who criticize state institutions, raising broader questions about the rule of law, freedom of speech, and protection of human rights defenders in Pakistan.
Beyond the individual case, this incident highlights a broader pattern of using cybercrime and public order laws to restrict political speech and online expression. Legal experts argue that vague and broadly worded provisions in PECA allow for selective enforcement against critics of state institutions. As a result, the prosecution of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha is being viewed not only as a legal matter but also as a political and human rights issue, with implications for journalists, lawyers, activists, and ordinary citizens who use digital platforms to express dissenting views.