An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi sentenced the two lawyers in a case linked to security arrangements during an international cricket team’s visit in 2024.
WEB DESK: An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi on Thursday sentenced human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, to 10 years in prison each in a security breach case.
The verdict was announced by Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra at Adiala Jail, where the proceedings were held.
The case concerns allegations that the couple interfered with official duties and disrupted security arrangements during the visit of an international cricket team to Pakistan in October 2024.
Why Were Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha Sentenced?
The case was registered at Islamabad’s Aabpara Police Station and relates to an incident involving security arrangements for an international cricket team’s visit.
According to the prosecution’s case, the couple allegedly removed security barriers and interfered with officials performing their duties.
Mazari and Chattha have disputed the allegations. Their defence has challenged the legal basis and conduct of the proceedings.
The case drew additional legal scrutiny before the verdict. Their lawyer had asked the court to postpone its decision, arguing that petitions concerning the proceedings remained pending before the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court.
Court Announces Verdict at Adiala Jail
Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra announced the verdict on Thursday, October 29, following the conclusion of the trial.
The prosecution presented seven witnesses during the proceedings, according to reporting by Pakistani news outlets. The court had reserved its judgment after the final arguments concluded.
The sentencing follows earlier proceedings in which the couple was indicted in the case on October 7, 2026.
Before the verdict, their defence had challenged aspects of the trial and sought relief from the superior courts.
Defence Had Sought Postponement of Verdict
Geo News reported that defence lawyer Aimal Mandokhail argued that the trial court should defer the verdict until pending applications before the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court had been decided.
The defence also sought the transfer of the case through proceedings before the Islamabad High Court.
The verdict was announced despite the defence’s request for postponement.
The precise legal effect of the pending petitions, and any subsequent orders from the superior courts, should be established from the relevant court records before publication of further updates.
Background: Earlier Sentences in a Separate Case
The couple has also faced proceedings over controversial social media posts.
In January 2026, a sessions court sentenced Mazari and Chattha to 17 years in prison each in a separate case involving posts on social media under cybercrime-related provisions.
On September 17, 2026, the Supreme Court suspended those sentences and granted them bail pending further proceedings in that case.
However, police arrested the couple again the same day in connection with the separate security breach case. The latest verdict concerns that separate case and should not be confused with the earlier social media-related proceedings.
