Pakistani Court Sentences Human Rights Lawyer Couple to 10 Years in Prison
A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has sentenced prominent human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, to 10 years in prison in a security breach case. The couple was accused of endangering the security of England's cricket team during its 2024 visit to Pakistan. The incident occurred in October 2024 when the couple removed road barriers in Islamabad along a route designated for the visiting team.
The court also imposed additional sentences of one year and two years on the couple on separate charges of obstructing and assaulting government servants. However, the sentences will run concurrently, meaning the couple will serve a total of 10 years in prison. Mazari and Chattha have been held at Adiala Jail since earlier this year and have drawn support from human rights groups that have condemned their imprisonment.
Mazari, who has won international recognition for speaking out against the disappearances of political activists and for defending minorities and journalists, disputed the prosecution's account of the incident. She claimed that she was trying to reach the court to represent a client when police stopped them at a roadblock. The couple's family has announced plans to appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court.
