ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Excessive Court docket (IHC) on Wednesday mounted for listening to the appeals of human rights lawyer advocate Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha towards their conviction within the controversial social media posts case.
Based on the trigger listing issued by the registrar’s workplace, IHC’s Justice Muhammad Asif will take up the appeals on Thursday (February 19).
The courtroom additionally scheduled for listening to functions in search of the suspension of sentences awarded to the 2 legal professionals.
Final month, Imaan and Hadi have been handed a complete of 17 years in jail on a number of fees beneath the Prevention of Digital Crimes Act (Peca) by a periods courtroom in Islamabad, sparking outrage amongst rights teams, opposition events, and different segments of society.
The written order by Extra District and Periods Decide Muhammad Afzal Majoka stated the prosecution had proved its case towards Imaan and Hadi beneath Sections 9 (glorification of an offence), 10 (cyberterrorism) and 26-A (false info) of Peca. Beneath Part 9 of Peca, each have been sentenced to 5 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs5 million every, with an extra yr in default.
For Part 10, they have been every handed 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs30m, with two extra years in default. Beneath Part 26-A, they acquired two years’ rigorous imprisonment and a high quality of Rs1m every, with six months’ further jail time in case of non-payment. All sentences will run concurrently.
On Feb 7, the couple challenged the trial courtroom’s order. Of their appeals, the 2 contended that the impugned judgment was handed in blatant violation of settled authorized ideas and obligatory procedural necessities.
They argued that the trial courtroom proceeded to pronounce the decision even if an utility in search of switch of the case was pending adjudication earlier than the IHC, rendering the choice “illegal and with out jurisdiction”.
On January 29, the Worldwide Fee of Jurists (ICJ) and its companion organizations published A joint assertion condemning the “arbitrary arrest” and conviction of the 2 legal professionals, calling for his or her launch.
Individually, the United Nations Human Rights Workplace additionally stated that the conviction and sentencing of the couple “following truthful trial issues” was deeply disturbing.
The European Union’s (EU) Spokesperson for International Affairs and Safety Coverage Anouar El Anouni had additionally raised issues over the conviction of Imaan and Hadi. The EU official stated their convictions “over social media exercise goes towards freedom of expression and independence of legal professionals”.
“These should not solely key democratic ideas but in addition a part of [Pakistan’s] worldwide human rights commitments,” Anouni stated.
Additional, 5 United Nations consultants on Feb 4 expressed alarm over the conviction. In a joint statementUN particular rapporteurs Margaret Satterthwaite, Ben Saul, Mary Lawlor, Irene Khan and Gina Romero famous that the 2 have been convicted on a number of prison fees, which resulted in prolonged jail sentences “for merely exercising rights assured by worldwide human rights legislation”.
“Legal professionals, like different people, are entitled to freedom of expression. The train of this proper ought to by no means be conflated with prison conduct, particularly not terrorism,” they have been quoted as saying, whereas additionally emphasizing the obscure definition of terrorism-related offenses beneath Pakistan’s counter-terrorism framework.
“Doing so dangers undermining and criminalizing the work of legal professionals and human rights defenders throughout Pakistan and has a chilling impact on civil society within the nation,” the consultants stated.
