{"id":12355,"date":"2026-10-29T17:45:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T17:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=12355"},"modified":"2026-10-29T17:45:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T17:45:12","slug":"pakistan-rights-activist-imaan-mazari-and-husband-jailed-for-10-years-human-rights-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=12355","title":{"rendered":"Pakistan rights activist Imaan Mazari and husband jailed for 10 years | Human Rights News"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Couple say they are \u2018prisoners of conscience\u2019 being made into an example by Pakistan\u2019s military-backed authorities.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Published On 29 Oct 2026<\/span>29 Oct 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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An antiterrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced prominent human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, \u2060\u2060to 10 years in prison on terrorism-related charges.<\/p>\n

Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra announced the verdict on Thursday, following their trial inside Adiala prison in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.<\/p>\n

The couple were found guilty of putting \u201cthe security of [the England and Wales Cricket] team at risk\u201d, the judge wrote, adding that it \u201cclearly shows the intentions and objective of the accused to create a sense of terror\u201d, according to a copy of the court judgement obtained by the AFP news agency.<\/p>\n

At the same time, the ruling conceded that the security breach was \u201ca very common nature ordinary type of incident apparently of removal of a barrier\u201d.<\/p>\n

The case relates to an October 2024 incident in which the couple removed road barriers in the capital, Islamabad, along a route designated for the touring England cricket team.<\/p>\n

The couple were indicted on October 7, accused of obstructing police and inciting public interest, and pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n

In statements seen by the Reuters news agency, the couple denied the charges, while calling themselves \u201cprisoners of conscience\u201d, adding that \u2060\u2060they were being targeted for their human rights work.<\/p>\n

In their defence document, the couple had earlier said they were \u201cbeing made an example to further cement the chilling effect against those who stand (or want to stand) against tyranny, oppression and injustice\u201d.<\/p>\n

Relatives criticise judicial process<\/h2>\n

Shireen Mazari, who is Imaan Mazari\u2019s mother and served as Pakistan\u2019s human rights minister under incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, said it was a \u201csham trial without any due process\u201d.<\/p>\n

Mazari told the Reuters news agency the couple \u201cwere not permitted to defend themselves through their own lawyer, and were not provided with key legal \u2060\u2060documents\u201d, adding that the defence would file a petition against the verdict in the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n

Amnesty International called the convictions \u201can indictment of Pakistan\u2019s justice system.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a test of the judiciary\u2019s ability to uphold the principles of justice and the right to fair trial. It has failed that test miserably,\u201d said Amnesty\u2019s Yasmine Ahmend.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is clear that these \u2018anti-terrorism\u2019 charges are being used to punish Imaan and Hadi for their human rights advocacy,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

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Mazari and Chattha have been in custody since January 23, in a separate case over their social media posts.<\/p>\n

A lower court sentenced \u200c\u200cthem each to 17 years the next day under Pakistan\u2019s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, which critics have said is designed to quash antigovernment dissent online.<\/p>\n

Although the Supreme Court later suspended those sentences, police re-arrested \u200c\u200cthe couple the same day in the security breach case.<\/p>\n

\u201cImaan and Hadi\u2019s re-arrest dispels any pretence that the charges against them are anything other than a politically motivated attempt to punish them for their human rights work\u201d, said Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International\u2019s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, adding that the case demonstrates once again the authorities\u2019 willingness to weaponise the legal system against critical voices.<\/p>\n

Pakistan\u2019s \u2060\u2060law minister, Azam Nazeer Tarar, has repeatedly said the country\u2019s judiciary is independent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Couple say they are \u2018prisoners of conscience\u2019 being made into an example by Pakistan\u2019s military-backed authorities. Published On 29 Oct 202629 Oct 2026 An antiterrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced prominent human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, \u2060\u2060to 10 years in prison on terrorism-related charges. Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra announced…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12356,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_templately_pack_id":"","_templately_imported_at":"","_templately_source":"","_templately_import_session_id":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-international-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t