Pakistan rights body flags 100+ day delay in lawyers' PECA appeals
Synopsis
More than 100 days after two of Pakistan's most prominent human rights lawyers were sentenced to a combined 17 years in prison under PECA, not a single bench has been constituted to hear their appeals. HRC-Pakistan is now demanding the Supreme Court act — raising urgent questions about judicial independence and the state's treatment of rights defenders.
Key Takeaways
HRC-Pakistan on Saturday called on Pakistan's government and judiciary to immediately protect the legal rights of Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha .
The couple were sentenced to a combined 17 years in prison and fined 36 million Pakistani rupees each in January 2025 under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) .
More than 100 days have passed since sentencing with no bench constituted and no progress on appeals.
Both lawyers filed a fresh petition in Pakistan's Supreme Court requesting a hearing preferably in the week of 4 May 2025 .
The Islamabad High Court admitted the appeal in February 2025 but did not grant a stay on the sentence.
The Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRC-Pakistan) on Saturday, 3 May 2025, called on the Pakistani government and relevant judicial authorities to immediately safeguard the legal rights of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, warning that prolonged delay in hearing their appeals could undermine the right to a fair trial and the rule of law in Pakistan.
Background: Conviction and Appeals
In January 2025, a sessions court in Islamabad sentenced Imaan and her husband Hadi to a combined 17 years in prison and fined each of them 36 million Pakistani rupees on multiple charges linked to social media posts under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The conviction drew widespread international criticism, with rights groups and legal observers calling the case a direct assault on free expression and legal advocacy.
On Thursday, both lawyers reportedly filed a fresh petition in Pakistan's Supreme Court, requesting an early hearing of their appeals against the conviction. Specifically, the petition sought to challenge the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order issued on 17 February 2025, which had admitted the appeal and issued notices on the suspension plea but declined to grant a stay on the sentence.
HRC-Pakistan's Concerns
The rights body expressed deep concern over what it described as an extraordinary delay in delivering justice. HRC-Pakistan stated:
Point of View
The silence of the courts is itself a message. Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir's profile as a vocal critic of the military establishment makes this case a litmus test for whether Pakistan's judiciary can operate independently of political pressure. The international criticism has so far produced no visible judicial response, which raises the harder question: is the delay administrative, or is it structural?
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha?
They are prominent Pakistani human rights lawyers and a married couple who were sentenced in January 2025 to a combined 17 years in prison under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) over social media posts. Both are known for their vocal advocacy against human rights violations in Pakistan.
Why has HRC-Pakistan raised an alarm over their case?
HRC-Pakistan has flagged that more than 100 days have passed since the sentencing, yet no bench has been constituted to hear their appeals. The body argues this constitutes a denial of justice and violates Article 10-A of Pakistan's Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to a fair trial.
What did the Islamabad High Court decide in February 2025?
The Islamabad High Court admitted the appeal against the trial court's judgment in February 2025 and issued notices on the suspension plea, but it did not grant a stay on the sentence, meaning both lawyers remain subject to the conviction while awaiting a hearing.
What has the Supreme Court petition requested?
The fresh petition filed in Pakistan's Supreme Court requests leave to appeal against the IHC order and asks the court to suspend the sentence until the criminal appeal before the IHC is disposed of. The petitioners have requested a hearing preferably in the week starting 4 May 2025.
What is PECA and why is it controversial?
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) is a Pakistani law that criminalises certain online content and communications. Critics and rights groups argue it has been misused to silence journalists, activists, and dissidents, with prosecutions often targeting those critical of state institutions.
