Pakistan human rights lawyers get 17-year jail term over posts

In Pakistan, a court sentenced eminent human rights lawyers Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha to 17 years in prison. Authorities on Saturday arrested the couple in Islamabad after claiming their social media posts were against the state and its security. Judge Afzal Majoka stated that Mazari’s tweets supported the goals of banned groups. Rights groups have asked for their release and called the move a form of harassment. Mazari and Chattha had often helped people held by security forces.
The case was based on a complaint filed on August 12, 2025, at the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Islamabad, accusing the two of controversial social media posts. The NCCIA complaint accused Mazari-Hazir of “propagating narratives that align with hostile terrorist groups and proscribed organisations”, while her husband was implicated for reposting some of her posts. They were indicted in the case on October 30 last year and arrested on Friday in the capital, Islamabad, while en route to court and later sent to jail on a 14-day judicial remand.
The two were each sentenced to five years imprisonment under Section 9, ten years under Section 10 and two years under Section 26-A. The sentence was announced after Mazari-Hazir refused to attend the proceedings upon learning that the media had been barred from the courtroom.“Is the media present in court?” she asked during the hearing before alleging, “We are being subjected to torture. We are not being given food or water.” Mazari then announced, “We are boycotting the court proceedings.” The judge responded by asking, “You mean you do not want to be part of the proceedings?” and told them to “wait for the decision.”
India has frequently expressed concern over the human rights situation in Pakistan. Indian officials have stated that concepts like democracy are missing in Pakistan and have criticized the country for its treatment of dissenters and minorities. India views such legal actions against activists as part of a pattern of state repression. Indian representatives at international forums have urged Pakistan to end violations of fundamental rights and focus on its own domestic issues.
Mazari is the daughter of Shireen Mazari, Pakistan's former human rights minister who served under imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. She denounced the verdict on X as "totally illegal." Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar praised the verdict against the pair. "As you sow, so shall you reap!" he wrote on X, adding that they had been sentenced under the cyber laws.