Pakistani human rights lawyers imprisoned for 17 years over social media posts

Pakistani human rights lawyers imprisoned for 17 years over social media posts
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A Pakistani court on Saturday issued 17-year-in-prison sentences for two human rights lawyers, Mazari and her husband, over social media posts the authorities claimed were hostile to the state and its security institutions.

According to Al-Arabiya English, the accused appeared briefly via video link but boycotted the hearing, prompting the court to conclude the trial and deliver the verdict. Family and friends denounced the ruling.

The court verdict alleged they had posted multiple tweets in recent years that “portrayed the agenda” of the outlawed Baloch separatist group and Pakistani Taliban.

International and domestic rights groups condemned the arrest of Mazari and her husband and called for their immediate release.

Human rights activists in Pakistan have increasingly come under pressure from the government, which has been cracking down on criticism and dissent. Mazari and Chattha often represented journalists, political figures and human rights activists who had been detained by the security forces without formal charges or court appearances.