A Pakistani court issued on Thursday notices on appeals filed by Pakistani human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha challenging their convictions in controversial tweets case.

Islamabad High Court also issued notices on their applications seeking suspension of sentences and directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency to submit its response.

During the hearing, the appellants were represented by senior lawyers Faisal Siddiqi, Zainab Janjua and others.

Advocate Faisal Siddiqi told the court that the trial court announced its verdict while a transfer application was still pending. He also said statements of two witnesses were recorded in the absence of the accused.

Siddiqi further submitted that after the judgment had been issued, the trial judge removed one paragraph from the verdict.

“If you want to convict, convict them ten times, but at least conduct a proper trial,” Siddiqi told the court.

Justice Muhammad Asif, who presided over the proceedings, said notices were being issued and that paper books should be submitted.

Siddiqi requested an early hearing date for the suspension of sentence applications, saying he travels from Karachi and asked that the matter be scheduled on a day when he is present in Islamabad.

Justice Asif asked about his availability, to which Siddiqi suggested Monday or Tuesday. The judge said a suitable date would be fixed.

The court then issued notices and adjourned further hearing.

On Feb. 7, Mazari and Chattha appealed their convictions under Pakistan’s cybercrime law. They argued in their petitions that the cases were retaliation for their work challenging alleged abuses in blasphemy prosecutions, as a separate anti-terrorism court extended their judicial remand.

The couple were sentenced on Jan. 24, 2026, to 17 years of rigorous imprisonment each, along with fines totaling PKR 36 million, by an additional sessions judge of a Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act court, according to appeal petitions filed with the Islamabad High Court.

Under the ruling, Mazari and Chattha received five years in prison and a PKR 5 million fine for glorification of an offense, 10 years and a PKR 30 million fine for cyberterrorism, and two years with a PKR 1 million fine for spreading false or fake information under Sections 9, 10 and 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. They have also challenged a subsequent court order dated Jan. 27, 2026.

Mazari described the verdict as a denial of due process and an attempt to silence her professional work.

The couple said the cybercrime cases stem from FIR No. 234/2025, registered on Aug. 22, 2025, following their joint efforts to highlight what they allege is the systematic misuse of blasphemy laws.

They claimed this included collusion between a private group and officials of the Federal Investigation Agency and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency to fabricate cases against more than 400 young and economically vulnerable individuals.

International observers, including United Nations experts and global rights organizations, have voiced concern over the cases, raising questions about fair trial standards and the use of security and cybercrime laws against human rights defenders.