Politics · Switzerland · 6 hrs ago
Pakistani human rights lawyer and husband sentenced to 10 years in prison
Pakistani lawyer Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband were each sentenced to 10 years in prison by an anti-terrorism court.
The case involves an incident in Islamabad around a cricket match two years ago, when they were accused of removing a security barrier and attacking police; both deny the allegations.
Mazari-Hazir is known for defending people harmed by state violence and for criticizing the military and religious leaders.
The couple say the state is using the case to discourage people who speak out against injustice.
Amnesty International said they were punished for continuing their human rights work and criticized the fact that their trial took place in prison.
The sentence follows earlier prison terms and arrests: in January, they each received 17 years over a social media post criticizing the military, and they were later jailed again after being released on bail.
Rights groups see a wider pattern of authorities targeting advocates, amid concerns that Pakistan’s military influence and changes to the constitution have weakened checks on power.
The sources do not say whether the couple will appeal or what happens next in this case.
A Pakistani anti-terrorism court sentenced human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, to 10 years in prison each.
They were accused of removing a security barrier near a cricket match in Islamabad and attacking police; both deny the allegations.
The couple said during the trial that they believed the state was making an example of them to deter people who challenge injustice.
Amnesty International said they were punished for continuing their human rights work and exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
The couple had also faced earlier prison sentences and arrests linked to social media posts and protest slogans.
- Who
- Human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband and fellow lawyer, Hadi Ali Chattha.
- What
- They were sentenced to 10 years in prison each after being accused of removing a security barrier and attacking police. They deny the allegations.
- When
- The court sentenced them recently, according to the article published on November 14, 2026.
- Where
- Islamabad, Pakistan.
- Why
- They were convicted under the Anti-Terrorism Act over an alleged incident near a cricket match. They say the state is targeting them for their human rights work.
The Pakistani state
Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha
Alleged incident
The Pakistani state
The couple were accused of removing a security barrier near a cricket match and attacking police.
Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha
They deny removing the barrier and attacking police.
Reason for prosecution
The Pakistani state
The couple were charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha
They said the state was making an example of them to deter people who oppose injustice.
The couple were accused of removing a security barrier near a cricket match in Islamabad and attacking police.
The couple were jailed after a social media post critical of the military, and Islamabad's highest court sentenced them to 17 years each.
They were released on bail but were returned to prison hours later over allegations that they had chanted anti-government slogans at a protest.
An anti-terrorism court sentenced them to 10 years in prison each.
- Sentence
- 10 years in prison each
- Defendants
- Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha
- Alleged incident
- Removal of a security barrier and an attack on police
- Location
- Islamabad, Pakistan
- Earlier sentence
- 17 years in prison each
What people are saying
It is very dangerous, what we are doing.
We see a pattern.