Iman Mazari, Hadi Ali Chatha Convicted Under PECA; 10-Year Prison Term, PKR 9 Million Fine
Islamabad: A local Islamabad court has sentenced human rights lawyer Iman Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chatha to a total of 17 years of rigorous imprisonment each in a high-profile case involving controversial social media posts, alongside a hefty fine of PKR 9 million.
The verdict was delivered under multiple provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). According to the court, both were sentenced to:
- 5 years each under Section 9 PECA,
- 10 years each under Section 10 PECA, and
- 2 years each under Section 26A PECA.
The court clarified that all sentences will run concurrently, meaning both Mazari and Chatha will serve 10 years in prison.
The proceedings took place via video link at the Additional District and Sessions Court before Judge Afsal Majoka on Saturday, during which the couple announced a boycott of the court proceedings.
According to the verdict, Mazari and Chatha were accused of uploading “anti-state” material on social media, as well as promoting the narratives of banned organizations including Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), along with individuals such as Maah Rang Baloch, Ali Wazir, and Manzoor Pashteen.
The prosecution successfully demonstrated that the couple had violated the PECA provisions, resulting in the conviction and fines.
This comes a day after Islamabad police arrested Mazari and Chatha in a separate case. Subsequently, the Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court remanded them to 14 days’ judicial custody.
The case has drawn significant attention from human rights groups and legal observers, given Mazari’s prominent role in pursuing cases related to enforced disappearances and civil liberties.
