A Pakistani court has sentenced two prominent human rights lawyers, Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha, to 10 years in prison under anti-terrorism legislation. The court found them guilty of removing security barriers during a visit by the England cricket team to Islamabad. The lawyers had denied the allegations, claiming they were targeted for their human rights and legal work.
The case has been condemned by rights groups, who argue that the charges against the lawyers are absurd and an insult to their lifelong commitment to human rights. The couple was first arrested in October 2024 over allegations of removing police barriers during the team's visit, but was later released. They were arrested again in January 2026 and sentenced to 17 years in prison in a separate case involving social media posts.
The Supreme Court suspended the 17-year sentences in September, but police rearrested the lawyers hours later on separate charges. Following their rearrest, Human Rights Watch urged Pakistani authorities to stop using criminal prosecutions to punish lawyers engaged in peaceful dissent and called for their immediate release. Amnesty International also condemned the rearrest as a "terrible injustice".
Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra found that the lawyers' actions put the security of the England cricket team at risk, showing their intentions and objective to create a sense of terror. The court judgement detailed the pair's lengthy jail sentences, which have sparked widespread criticism from human rights groups. The lawyers' case has raised concerns about the use of anti-terrorism laws to silence human rights defenders in Pakistan.
The England cricket team's visit to Islamabad in 2024 was a high-profile event, and the security arrangements were extensive. The lawyers' alleged actions during the visit sparked a controversy, with authorities accusing them of compromising the team's security. However, rights groups argue that the charges against the lawyers are unfounded and part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Pakistan.
Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha are well-known human rights lawyers in Pakistan, with a long history of advocating for justice and human rights. Their arrest and sentencing have sparked outrage among human rights groups and lawyers' associations, who argue that the charges against them are politically motivated.
The case has also raised concerns about the independence of the judiciary in Pakistan and the use of anti-terrorism laws to silence critics. The international community has called on Pakistan to respect human rights and the rule of law, and to release the lawyers immediately.
Key points
- Pakistani court sentences 2 human rights lawyers to 10 years in prison under anti-terrorism law
- Lawyers accused of removing security barriers during England cricket team's visit to Islamabad
- Human rights groups condemn charges as absurd and an insult to lawyers' commitment to human rights
