Several United Nations (UN) experts expressed concern over the conviction of Pakistani lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha on criminal charges. The experts highlighted that lawyers, like all individuals, have the right to freedom of expression, which should not be equated with criminal behavior, especially terrorism. The conviction of the lawyers under Pakistan’s counter-terrorism laws has raised fears of undermining the work of legal professionals and human rights defenders in the country.
In August 2025, Mazari-Hazir and Ali Chattha faced criminal prosecution for their online activities. They were convicted on January 24 this year under Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 for various offenses, including cyber-terrorism and spreading false information. The lawyers received lengthy prison sentences totaling 17 years each, along with substantial fines. This was not the first legal action against them, as they have been targeted with multiple complaints since 2022.
The UN experts noted a troubling pattern of using the legal system to harass and intimidate Mazari-Hazir and Ali Chattha for their human rights advocacy work. They emphasized the importance of ensuring that lawyers are not prosecuted for their professional activities and should not be associated with their clients. The experts also raised concerns about the fairness of the legal proceedings, citing inadequate time for defense preparation and obstacles in accessing legal counsel of choice.
The UN experts, including Margaret Satterthwaite, Ben Saul, Mary Lawlor, Irene Khan, and Gina Romero, have engaged with Pakistan on these issues. They have highlighted the need for upholding international standards of fair trial procedures and protecting the rights of lawyers and human rights defenders.
