He notes that they have defended the rights of “countless people” and currently represent many others.
Human rights lawyer and social activist Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha. Photo archive
Human rights organization Amnesty International issued an urgent action call to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling for the immediate and unconditional release of human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha.
The two were convicted in Islamabad last month for alleged publications and republications in X that investigators described as “anti-state.” The case was registered in August 2025 by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, with allegations that the content was aimed at undermining state institutions and aligning with proscribed organizations or individuals.
The convictions were widely condemned by the legal community, politicians and civil society.
Amnesty today issued a call for urgent action and asked the public to write to Prime Minister Shehbaz about the couple’s release.
In a form letter written to the prime minister, Amnesty recounted the circumstances of their arrest and conviction, saying they were “being attacked solely for their advocacy and work defending human rights in the country.”
He said their trial was conducted with “unusual haste,” adding that they were “systematically denied the right to cross-examine witnesses and present evidence against them.”
🇵🇰 PAKISTAN: Amnesty International has issued an Urgent Action calling for the immediate and unconditional release of human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, each sentenced to 10 years in prison for social media posts labeled “anti-state”. Since his arrest on… pic.twitter.com/6mzPAS7GIk
— Amnesty International South Asia Regional Office (@amnestysasia) February 2, 2026
Amnesty also noted that his sentence was announced while a transfer request was still pending against the presiding judge of the court, whom the spouses had accused of bias.
The organization praised them as lawyers who had defended the rights of “countless people” and who were currently representing journalists, activists and victims of enforced disappearances and blasphemy accusations.
“Their imprisonment affects many of these people who deserve the right to be represented by their lawyers. The use of laws such as PECA to silence and criminalize peaceful dissent is a cause for serious concern and a clear violation of Pakistan’s obligations under international human rights law.
“I urge your government to immediately and unconditionally release Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha and quash their sentences. I also call on you to end the misuse of the criminal justice system, including cybercrime laws, to target human rights defenders. I am confident that your commitment to justice and human rights will guide your actions to address these serious concerns,” the organization said.
