Amnesty International and other leading human rights organisations on Monday, 22 June strongly condemned the continued detention of Pakistani human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha, marking 150 days of what rights groups describe as 'unlawful imprisonment' over social media posts. The couple's case has drawn sustained international criticism, with no appeal hearing held despite the passage of a Supreme Court-mandated deadline.

What the Rights Groups Said

Amnesty International, in a post on social media platform X, stated: 'Today marks 150 days of unlawful imprisonment of human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, simply for their social media posts. Five months on, despite repeated attempts by their legal counsel, their appeal has not been heard yet. The delay in the appeal hearing is in stark contrast to the haste during their trial, which had several procedural irregularities as they were denied substantial time to cross-examine key witnesses against them.'

Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ), another human rights body, echoed those concerns. 'Today marks 150 days since Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali were deprived of their freedom. For 150 days, justice has been delayed while their voices and the principles they stand for remain under attack,' the group said. It added: 'Silence from institutions only deepens the sense of injustice. Justice demands accountability, fairness, and freedom. Silence is not justice.'

The Legal Timeline and Stalled Appeals

In January 2025, a sessions court in Islamabad reportedly sentenced the couple to a combined 17 years in prison and fined each of them 36 million Pakistani rupees on multiple charges linked to social media posts. The Pakistan Supreme Court on 12 May directed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to decide on the sentence suspension pleas within two weeks, setting a deadline of 26 May.

That deadline has since passed without resolution. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) challenged the Supreme Court order, and the IHC, at the prosecution's request, adjourned the hearing of the couple's suspension pleas. According to reports citing Pakistani daily Dawn, the adjournment has left the lawyers in legal limbo with no clarity on when their appeal will be heard.

Concerns Over Due Process and Dissent

Rights organisations argue the case reflects a broader pattern of shrinking civic space in Pakistan. The procedural irregularities flagged by Amnesty — including denial of adequate time to cross-examine witnesses — have raised questions about the integrity of the original trial. Notably, the speed with which the conviction was secured contrasts sharply with the slow pace of the appeal process, a disparity that critics say undermines the principle of fair justice.

BVJ pointed to the wider implications: 'The continued detention of individuals for their beliefs and peaceful advocacy raises serious concerns about fundamental rights, due process, and the shrinking space for dissent.'

International Reaction and What Comes Next

The arrest and conviction of the two lawyers have drawn condemnation from rights bodies across the world. Their families and supporters continue to publicly demand their release. With the IHC appeal still pending and the NCCIA's legal challenge unresolved, the couple's path to freedom remains uncertain. Rights groups have called on Pakistani institutions to act without further delay.