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A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has sentenced prominent human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, to 10 years in prison over an alleged security breach during a cricket tour in 2024. The couple faced accusations of removing road barriers and obstructing police officers in Islamabad, charges that both defendants have denied.
Details of the Incident and Conviction
The case stems from an incident on October 25, 2024, when England’s cricket team was touring Pakistan. Prosecutors stated that Mazari and Chattha removed barriers from a road designated for the team’s security convoy and obstructed police officers at Zero Point, a major cloverleaf road junction in Islamabad.
The court sentenced each of them to 10 years in prison under the Anti-Terrorism Act. They also received additional one-year and two-year terms for obstructing and using force against public servants, with all sentences running concurrently. Furthermore, the court imposed a fine of 200,000 Pakistani Rupees (£541 or $723) on each individual.
Legal Background and Previous Sentences
Mazari and Chattha have been imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for several months following a series of criminal cases. They were previously sentenced to up to 17 years in prison under Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act for social media posts criticizing the military, following an arrest on January 23.
Although Pakistan’s Supreme Court suspended those sentences and granted bail on September 17, police re-arrested the couple the same day in connection with a separate case regarding a March 2025 protest where they were accused of blocking roads and chanting anti-government slogans.
Statements and International Reactions
During trial statements, the couple identified as prisoners of conscience facing state persecution. Chattha stated that he was being punished for supporting his wife’s activism and choosing a path of resisting injustice. The couple previously stated they were being made an example to create a chilling effect against those opposing oppression.
BBC News reported that Amnesty International criticized the proceedings, arguing the couple was denied an open and fair trial. Yasmine Ahmed, the organisation’s Senior Director for Regional Human Rights Impact, stated that the convictions indict Pakistan’s justice system and target the couple for their human rights work and freedom of expression. Amnesty International also raised concerns that the trial took place inside the prison, with the defendants kept behind a cage-like structure.
Mazari and Chattha are well-known human rights lawyers who have represented activists, journalists, and marginalized communities affected by enforced disappearances. Mazari’s mother, Shireen Mazari, previously served as human rights minister under former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
