A district and sessions court convicted the couple on Saturday after hearings linked to controversial content shared online. The verdict was announced by Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka.

Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha appeared before the court through a video link. During the hearing, Mazari alleged torture in custody and said they were being denied food and water. She also announced a boycott of the court proceedings.

Mazari questioned whether the media were present and told the judge that he was only doing his duty. She added that everything happening to them was because of the court’s actions.

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The judge asked if they were refusing to take part in the proceedings and told them to wait for the verdict. Before the hearing ended, both stood up and moved away from their seats while still visible on the video link.

Judge Majoka ordered court staff to record the entire hearing and submit it as part of the official record.

Earlier, police requested that the accused be produced via video link due to security concerns. The court accepted the request after police said more time was needed for physical production.

The judge had earlier directed senior police officers and officials of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to ensure the accused appeared at 10 am. He also noted that it was the final day for cross-examination under the Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders.

Mazari and Chattha were arrested a day earlier near the Serena Hotel underpass while heading to the district courts. Later, an anti-terrorism court sent them on a 14-day judicial remand.

Former human rights minister Shireen Mazari, Imaan’s mother, said on X that the couple were “covertly presented” before the anti-terrorism court. She claimed lawyers were not allowed entry, and the FIR was not provided despite court orders.

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The FIR includes charges under several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The case is linked to a lawyer’s protest against a Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) session held on February 10 last year.

Journalists present during the arrests alleged that police seized mobile phones from reporters. Journalist Asad Ali Toor said he witnessed police manhandling Mazari and severely beating her husband.