A Pakistani anti-terrorism court sentenced two prominent human rights lawyers to 10 years in prison each for their alleged role in disrupting security arrangements during England’s 2024 cricket tour of Islamabad. The convictions were handed down on Thursday following a closed-door trial conducted within Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.
The lawyers, Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, were found guilty by Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra of removing police barricades installed to secure the route designated for the England cricket team. The court ruled that their actions endangered the visiting players’ safety and obstructed law enforcement officers in the performance of their duties.
The incident at the center of the case occurred when the couple reportedly dismantled road barriers that had been erected as part of the security measures for the international sporting event. Authorities characterized the actions as a deliberate interference with protective protocols for the team.
Mazari-Hazir and Chattha have denied the accusations, asserting that the charges are politically motivated and linked to their extensive human rights advocacy. Rights organizations have expressed strong condemnation of the trial process, criticizing it as lacking transparency and raising concerns about the defendants’ fair treatment.
The case highlights tensions in Pakistan between state security priorities and civil society activists working on human rights issues. It also underscores the challenges faced in balancing official security concerns with protecting fundamental freedoms during major international events.
The couple’s legal representatives have not yet indicated whether they plan to appeal the verdict. The government has not released any further comment on the sentencing.