A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Saturday sentenced lawyer and activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her spouse, Hadi Ali Chattha, to a combined 17 years in prison each in a case related to controversial social media posts.

Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka announced the short order in open court.

Both Mazari and Chattha were awarded 10 years’ imprisonment under Section 10, five years under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Section 9 along with a fine of Rs5 million each, and two years’ imprisonment under Section 26-A with an additional fine of Rs1 million each.

The cumulative sentence for each accused amounts to 17 years in prison. The court, however, acquitted both under PECA Section 11.

In total, fines amounting to Rs36 million were imposed on the two convicts, court officials said.

Mazari and Chattha were produced before the court via video link from Adiala Jail.

Special prosecutors Barrister Fahad and Rana Usman were present in court at the time of the verdict.

No defence counsel representing Mazari or Chattha was present in the courtroom when the judgment was announced.

The case stemmed from social media posts that prosecutors said violated multiple provisions of the law.