Amnesty International demands release of Pakistani human rights lawyers

Amnesty International has called on Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to unconditionally release human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha. The two lawyers were arrested on January 23, 2026, despite having been granted pre-arrest bail two days prior.

An Islamabad district court sentenced Mazari-Hazir to 10 years and Chattha to 17 years in prison under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The charges involve allegations of cyber terrorism, glorification of an offense, and spreading false information related to social media posts on X. The posts expressed solidarity with Baloch and Pashtun activists and criticized Pakistani military policies. Chattha was prosecuted for resharing Mazari-Hazir’s content.

Human rights advocates have raised concerns regarding the fairness of the trial, noting it was conducted with “unusual haste” and that the defendants were denied opportunities to cross-examine witnesses or present evidence. While the Supreme Court of Pakistan directed the Islamabad High Court to decide on sentence-suspension pleas by mid-May, significant delays have persisted. Additionally, reports indicate that Mazari-Hazir’s health has been declining during her detention.