A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has sentenced prominent human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, to 10 years in prison each in a case linked to alleged interference with security arrangements for England’s cricket team during its 2024 tour of Pakistan.
The verdict was delivered on October 29, 2026, by Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where the trial was conducted. The ruling has drawn attention to the use of anti-terrorism legislation in Pakistan and raised fresh questions about the legal proceedings involving the two human rights lawyers.
The case dates back to an incident in Islamabad in October 2024, when the couple were accused of removing road barriers placed along a designated security route for the visiting England cricket team. Both Mazari and Chattha denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
What happened in the England cricket team security route case?
The incident reportedly took place on October 25, 2024, in Islamabad, when security arrangements were in place for the movement of England’s visiting cricket team. According to the prosecution, Mazari and Chattha removed traffic barriers placed along the team’s designated route and interfered with police personnel responsible for maintaining security.
Prosecutors argued that their actions obstructed public officials and created a potential security risk for the visiting team. The couple were also accused of encouraging public unrest.
However, Mazari presented a different account of the incident. She maintained that she was travelling to court to represent a client when police stopped their vehicle at a roadblock. The couple rejected the allegations throughout the proceedings.
The case attracted wider attention because it involved a relatively ordinary traffic barrier incident being prosecuted under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism legislation. Dawn+1
What did the anti-terrorism court say in its verdict?
The Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court sentenced both lawyers under three legal provisions.
The main punishment was 10 years in prison under Section 7(h) of Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The court also awarded one year under Section 186 of the Pakistan Penal Code for obstructing a public servant and two years under Section 353 for using criminal force against a public servant.
| Legal provision | Sentence for each |
|---|---|
| Section 7(h), Anti-Terrorism Act | 10 years |
| Section 186, Pakistan Penal Code | 1 year |
| Section 353, Pakistan Penal Code | 2 years |
The court also imposed financial penalties under the three provisions. Importantly, all prison terms will run concurrently, meaning the sentences will overlap rather than be served one after another. Therefore, the effective prison term remains 10 years each.
The court also acquitted Mazari and Chattha of several other charges, including criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy and rioting as members of an unlawful assembly.
In its reasoning, the court referred to the importance of protecting visiting international cricket teams and cited the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. It argued that compromising security arrangements for foreign sporting visitors could create a sense of terror.
Interestingly, the judgment also described the removal of a barrier as an apparently ordinary incident. Dawn+2
Imaan Mazari’s human rights work and family background
Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir is a prominent Pakistani lawyer known for representing journalists, political activists and individuals who have raised allegations of human rights violations.
Her legal work has included cases involving enforced disappearances, alleged unlawful detentions, custodial abuses and the rights of marginalised communities. Her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, is also a lawyer who has worked on cases involving vulnerable individuals, including people facing blasphemy allegations.
Mazari is also the daughter of Shireen Mazari, Pakistan’s former human rights minister, who served during the government of former prime minister Imran Khan.
The couple’s imprisonment has attracted international attention, particularly among organisations monitoring the treatment of human rights defenders and lawyers in Pakistan.
Their legal team and supporters have raised concerns about access to defence documents, communication with lawyers and the fairness of the proceedings. Dawn+2
Legal team expected to challenge the 10-year prison sentence
The verdict came amid an ongoing legal battle involving the couple. In September 2026, Pakistan’s Supreme Court suspended separate 17-year prison sentences previously imposed on Mazari and Chattha in a case concerning their social media posts.
The Supreme Court had ordered their release on bail in that case. However, Islamabad police re-arrested them hours later in connection with the cricket security route case.
Following the latest verdict, Shireen Mazari criticised the judicial proceedings, describing them as a sham trial. She also indicated that the family would challenge the decision before the Supreme Court.
The defence had already approached the superior courts over the inclusion of terrorism-related charges and the decision to conduct the proceedings inside Adiala Jail. Dawn+1
Why has the verdict attracted international attention?
The conviction has sparked debate over the application of anti-terrorism laws against human rights lawyers in Pakistan.
International human rights organisation Front Line Defenders expressed concern over the sentences, while Amnesty International also criticised the convictions and raised questions about the right to a fair trial.
The case has become particularly significant because of Mazari and Chattha’s previous work representing individuals who have challenged alleged human rights violations.
For Pakistan cricket, the incident also highlights the importance of security arrangements during international tours. Visiting teams operate under strict security protocols, particularly following previous attacks on foreign cricket teams in the country.
However, the legal questions surrounding the case are likely to remain in focus as the couple’s family prepares to challenge the verdict.
The next stage of the legal proceedings could prove important in determining whether the 10-year sentences remain in place or are reconsidered by a higher court.
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