An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Thursday, 30 October 2026, sentenced human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha to 10 years in prison each in connection with a security breach case linked to the removal of road barricades during a cricket match in Islamabad in 2024. The verdict has drawn sharp international condemnation, with rights groups warning it signals a wider crackdown on civil society voices in Pakistan.

The Verdict and Its Details

The anti-terrorism court convicted the couple under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, and additionally imposed a fine of Pakistani Rupees one lakh each. The court directed all sentences to run concurrently, meaning the effective prison term remains 10 years each. The case stemmed from an incident in 2024 in which barricades placed on an Islamabad road during a cricket match were reportedly removed — an act the prosecution framed as a security breach.

Critics argue that the use of anti-terrorism legislation for what amounts to a road obstruction dispute is a disproportionate application of the law, and raises questions about the independence of Pakistan's judiciary from military influence.

Rights Group Condemns the Sentences

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a prominent civil rights organisation, issued a statement on X on Friday describing the sentences as 'a clear example of the helplessness of the judiciary in Pakistan, the absence of justice, and a system based on military dominance.' The BYC characterised the punishment as 'an attempt to silence the struggle for the defence of human rights and justice.'

In its statement, the BYC noted that both Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha were not merely lawyers but long-standing human rights activists who had consistently raised their voices against what the committee described as atrocities committed against the Baloch, Pashtun, and other oppressed communities. The couple had also expressed solidarity with families affected by enforced disappearances — a deeply contested issue in Pakistan's western provinces.

The BYC posted on X: 'The sentencing of Iman Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha poses a critical question to all individuals struggling for justice, freedom of expression, and human rights: Does the freedom to raise one's voice for the oppressed truly exist in this country?'

Background: Who Are Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha

Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir is the daughter of Shireen Mazari, a former federal minister and prominent opposition figure in Pakistan. She has been a vocal critic of enforced disappearances and military influence over civilian institutions. Hadi Ali Chattha is similarly known for taking up cases involving victims of alleged state oppression. Their profile as high-visibility activists makes this sentencing particularly significant — and the BYC argues it sends 'an alarming message to all those voices that speak out for the oppressed.'

Wider Context: Pakistan's Civil Society Under Pressure

This case is not an isolated incident. Analysts and rights groups have documented a pattern of legal pressure on activists, journalists, and lawyers in Pakistan, particularly those aligned with movements critical of the military establishment. This is the latest in a series of high-profile prosecutions that critics allege are driven by political motive rather than genuine security concern. Notably, the BYC itself has faced repeated state pressure over its activism in Balochistan.

The BYC has urged human rights organisations, lawyers' representative bodies, civil society, and international human rights institutions to take notice of the case and demand justice for the couple.

What Comes Next

The couple's legal team is expected to challenge the verdict in higher courts. International human rights bodies, including those affiliated with the United Nations, are likely to face calls to formally respond to the sentencing. How Pakistan's legal establishment and international partners react in the coming days will be closely watched by rights advocates across South Asia.