Jibran Nasir questions judge's jurisdiction; Shireen Mazari terms conviction 'totally illegal'
Human Rights lawyer and social activist Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha. Photo File
Political parties, parliamentarians and members of the legal community condemned the conviction and sentencing of human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, on Saturday, describing the verdict as “unfair” and a “grave miscarriage of justice”.
A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Saturday convicted the two in a case related to controversial social media posts and sentenced them to 17 years in prison.
The case pertains to alleged posts and reposts on X, formerly Twitter, which authorities described as “anti-state”. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) registered the case in August last year under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016, alleging the content was intended to incite divisions and portray state institutions negatively.
The couple was arrested on Friday in Islamabad while reportedly heading to the district courts, and the court announced its verdict today.
تحریک تحفظ آئین پاکستان ایمان مزاری اور ہادی علی چٹھہ کے خلاف غیرمنصفانہ اور غیرآزادانہ ٹرائل کے بعد سنائی گئی دس دس سال قید کی سزا کی سختی سے مذمت کرتی ہے۔ یہ فیصلہ عدالتی آزادی کے بنیادی اصولوں کے منافی ہے اور ایک خوفزدہ، زیرِ دباؤ عدالتی ماحول کا شاخسانہ ہے، جہاں انصاف کے… pic.twitter.com/FvbQHLT8JP — Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakist
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