More than 100 civil society organisations, lawyers, journalists, academics, and human rights defenders have called on Pakistan's federal government to refrain from opposing the bail of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, ahead of a scheduled hearing in the country's Supreme Court on Tuesday, 13 May 2025. The signatories described the continued detention of the couple as "unjustified" and a direct threat to freedom of expression and digital rights in Pakistan.

The Joint Statement

In a collective appeal, the signatories stated that 109 days have elapsed since the arrest and conviction of the two lawyers in a case linked to online expression under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). They noted that the Islamabad High Court has failed to schedule a hearing for the appellants' applications for suspension of sentence and bail, resulting in what they called "prolonged deprivation of liberty contrary to constitutional guarantees of due process and fair trial."

"This case raises critical concerns regarding freedom of expression, the misuse of PECA against lawful speech, and the protection of fundamental rights in Pakistan. The continued detention of the appellants pending adjudication of their appeals has had a chilling effect on democratic discourse and digital rights, undermining the right to freedom of speech in Pakistan," the statement read.

What the Signatories Are Demanding

The coalition specifically urged the federal government, represented by the office of the Attorney General of Pakistan, not to oppose the appellants' request for bail and suspension of sentence before the Supreme Court. "In a case concerning non-violent, lawful online speech, continued incarceration serves neither justice nor the public interest," they noted. The signatories pledged to continue monitoring the scheduled proceedings and reaffirmed their commitment to constitutional freedoms and digital rights across Pakistan.

Background: The Conviction and Sentence

In January 2025, a sessions court in Islamabad reportedly sentenced Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha to a combined 17 years in prison, with each fined 36 million Pakistani rupees on multiple charges linked to social media posts. The case was filed under PECA, a law that critics argue has increasingly been deployed against lawful online speech and dissent in Pakistan.

International Criticism and Broader Implications

The arrest and conviction of the two human rights lawyers have drawn widespread condemnation internationally, with rights groups and legal bodies flagging the case as emblematic of a broader crackdown on digital expression in Pakistan. This comes amid growing concern over the use of PECA to silence journalists, activists, and legal professionals who speak out on sensitive political matters. Notably, this is not the first time Pakistani authorities have faced accusations of weaponising cybercrime legislation against critics — a pattern that watchdog organisations say has intensified in recent years.

With the Supreme Court hearing now approaching, the outcome of the bail application is expected to serve as a significant indicator of the judiciary's willingness to push back against executive overreach in free speech cases.