On 23 January, human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chatta were arbitrary arrested and the next day, 24 January, both sentenced to 10 to 17 years’ imprisonment for social media posts deemed to be “anti-state” and “fake and false information” under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. Eight months on and their appeal against their sentence and conviction has yet to be heard. Imaan Mazari-Hazir has experienced serious health concerns in detention for which she needed urgent healthcare and which the authorities repeatedly denied her access to. The Pakistani authorities must quash their conviction and immediately and unconditionally release them.
