ISLAMABAD: A sessions court on Saturday sentenced lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, to a combined 17 years in prison on multiple charges linked to social media posts.
The lawyer couple were already on judicial remand at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail following their arrest in a separate case on Friday.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka ruled that the prosecution had proven its case against both accused. The court convicted them under Sections 9, 10 and 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).
Under Section 9 of Peca, the court sentenced each accused to five years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs5 million each. The court ordered an additional year in prison for each in case of default.
Under Section 10 of Peca, the court sentenced both Imaan and Hadi to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each. It also imposed a fine of Rs30 million each, with an additional two years in prison for default.
The court further sentenced the couple to two years of rigorous imprisonment each under Section 26-A of Peca. It imposed a fine of Rs1 million each, with an additional six months of imprisonment in case of default.
The court ordered that all sentences would run concurrently.
In its order, the court noted that both convicts were present in custody in another case and appeared through a video link. It directed that they remain in jail to serve their sentences.
The court also granted both the benefit of Section 382-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The provision allows the period of detention to count towards the sentence.
In the judgment, Judge Majoka referred to a complaint filed in August 2025 by Sub-Inspector Sharooz Riaz. The complaint accused Imaan of repeatedly sharing offensive, misleading and anti-state content on social media with the active involvement of her husband.
The judgment stated that Imaan propagated narratives aligned with hostile terrorist groups and proscribed organisations. It said her content incited ethnic hatred, undermined public trust in state institutions and portrayed the armed forces as responsible for terrorism and enforced disappearances.
The court observed that tweets posted between 2021 and 2025 reflected the agenda of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
Judge Majoka stated that both accused were advocates by profession and fully aware that Pakistan was not a terrorist state. He said they intentionally labelled Pakistan as such in their posts, which he described as aligned with the agenda of banned groups.
The judgment said the accused portrayed the armed forces as responsible for terrorism and accused state institutions of colluding with proscribed individuals and organisations.
The court concluded that both accused committed offences punishable under Sections 9, 10 and 26-A of Peca, 2016.
The judgment further stated that investigation showed the accused disseminated narratives aligned with proscribed organisations. It said their posts expressed solidarity with banned groups, including the BLA, TTP and PTM, and individuals such as Mahrang Baloch, Ali Wazir and Manzoor Pashteen.
Earlier on Saturday, Imaan and Hadi appeared briefly before the court through a video link. Proceedings were disrupted after the couple boycotted the hearing. The court then reserved its order.
At the start of the hearing, the court sought compliance with earlier directions regarding cross-examination of the accused. The court had declared it a final opportunity following Islamabad High Court orders.
Police cited security concerns and requested permission to produce the accused through a video link. The court accepted the request.
Technical issues, including internet problems at Adiala jail, delayed proceedings. After a brief adjournment, the accused appeared before the court via video link.
When asked whether the defence wished to proceed with cross-examination, Imaan asked whether media representatives were present. She alleged that authorities were mistreating both her and her husband in custody.
Imaan claimed officials denied them food and water. She addressed the judge and said everything happening was because of him.
She then announced that both accused were boycotting the proceedings. Judge Majoka asked whether they wished to withdraw from the trial and advised them to wait for the verdict.
Despite the warning, both accused left their seats before proceedings concluded. The court directed staff to record the entire proceedings and place them on record.
Defence counsel Ashraf Gujjar later requested the summoning of a relevant individual. The judge noted that the person had already appeared online and said he would review the entire record.
The judge announced that he would issue a written order on the request and reserved the matter.
Imaan and Hadi face multiple cases related to controversial social media posts. The primary case stems from a complaint filed on August 12, 2025, with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency in Islamabad.
The court issued arrest warrants for the couple on November 5, 2025. Later, a court-appointed lawyer declined to cross-examine prosecution witnesses, saying he could not ask dictated questions.
The court later appointed a new lawyer. After repeated non-appearances, it cancelled interim bail on January 14 and reissued arrest warrants.
The couple later challenged their arrest orders before the Islamabad High Court.
The NCCIA complaint accused Imaan of disseminating narratives aligned with hostile terrorist and proscribed organisations. Authorities accused Hadi of reposting some of her content.
The FIR alleged that the couple blamed security forces for missing persons cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. It also alleged that they portrayed armed forces as ineffective against the BLA and TTP.
Earlier this week, a separate case from July 2025 emerged against the couple over a protest by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee. The Islamabad High Court granted them pre-arrest bail in that case.
Separately, police arrested the couple on Friday in a case related to a scuffle outside the Islamabad High Court in September 2025. A court then sent them to jail on a 14-day judicial remand.