ISLAMABAD / GENEVA — Five United Nations special rapporteurs issued a joint statement on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, expressing grave alarm over the sentencing of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha.
The couple was sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison and fined Rs 36 million each on January 24, 2026, following a high-speed trial involving social media posts critical of the state and military.
The UN’s “Harassment” Warning
The UN experts, including Margaret Satterthwaite and Mary Lawlor, criticized the use of Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and counter-terrorism framework to criminalize legal advocacy.
- Conflating Rights with Crime: The experts stated that freedom of expression should “never be conflated with criminal conduct, especially not terrorism.”
- Pattern of Intimidation: They noted that the couple has faced 10 criminal complaints since 2022, suggesting the legal system is being used as an “instrument of harassment” to punish them for representing victims of human rights violations.
- Trial Irregularities: The rapporteurs highlighted that evidence was reportedly taken in the absence of the defendants and that they were given inadequate time to prepare a defense, threatening the “fairness of the trial.”
Sentencing Breakdown (Jan 24, 2026)
The Islamabad Sessions Court handed down concurrent sentences under several PECA sections:
| Charge (PECA Section) | Sentence | Context |
| Section 10 (Cyber-Terrorism) | 10 Years | The longest of the concurrent sentences. |
| Section 9 (Glorification of Offence) | 5 Years | Related to “anti-state” narratives. |
| Section 26-A (False Information) | 2 Years | Spreading “fake news” about security forces. |
| Total Fines | Rs 36 Million | Per individual (Total Rs 72 million). |
IHC Directs Shireen Mazari to Adiala Authorities
In a separate development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) heard a petition from former federal minister Shireen Mazari, who alleged that her daughter and son-in-law were being held “incommunicado” at Adiala Jail.
- The Ruling: Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir disposed of the petition on Wednesday, instructing Shireen Mazari to first formally approach the Superintendent of Adiala Jail and the ICT Chief Commissioner.
- Legal Access: The petition argued that the couple has been denied confidential access to their legal team, which is obstructing their ability to file a time-sensitive appeal against their 17-year sentence.
- The “Wait and See” Approach: The judge remarked that if the jail authorities reject the meeting request, the petitioner can then return to the High Court for redress.
UN Experts Express Alarm Over Convictions of Human Rights Lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha https://t.co/IRAYUTBdDU via @ThePakDaily
— The Pakistan Daily (@ThePakDaily) February 5, 2026
What is Next?
The legal team for Imaan and Hadi is currently preparing a formal appeal against the conviction, though they maintain that the lack of private access in jail is a significant hurdle. Meanwhile, international rights groups, including Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), have joined the UN in calling for the convictions to be set aside.
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