Islamabad, October 29,2026: Lawyers, journalists, academics and human rights advocates have criticised the conviction of human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, who were sentenced to 10 years in prison each by an anti-terrorism court in a security breach case on Thursday.
The couple was convicted following a trial conducted at Adiala Jail in a case relating to the alleged disruption of an international cricket team’s security route and incitement to public unrest. They were accused of removing barriers along the route and were indicted on October 7.
Reema Omer, legal adviser to the International Commission of Jurists, described the convictions as “cruel, vindictive and textbook examples of using law and the judicial process as weapons of persecution”.
“Imaan and Hadi are prisoners of conscience,” she wrote on X.
Lawyer Rida Hosain called the convictions “a stain on our judicial system”, alleging that the legal system was being used to target human rights lawyers.
“Those entrusted with upholding the rule of law are weaponising it to persecute courageous human rights lawyers,” she said, adding that the case exposed a system functioning as an instrument of repression.
Zebunnisa Burki, op-ed editor at The News, described the development as “beyond ridiculous”, while journalist Zarrar Khuhro questioned the severity of the punishment, pointing to the allegation that the couple had removed a road barrier.
Journalist Asma Shirazi termed the verdict “reprehensible and regrettable”.
Journalist Maryam Nawaz Khan also criticised the ruling, questioning the transparency of the trial and describing the sentence as an attack on fundamental rights and constitutional freedoms.
“A sham/secret trial delivers a sham sentence,” she wrote, adding that the couple had maintained they did not remove the barriers.
Academic Nida Kirmani described the verdict as “absolutely absurd” and said the couple was paying the price for standing up to what she called a vindictive state.
Journalist Saqib Bashir also criticised the proceedings, saying the couple had been sentenced without a transparent trial.
Former Jamaat-i-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmed described the verdict as “a mockery of the judiciary and the justice system” and called it “a judicial murder of dissenting voices”.
He said Imaan and Hadi had been vocal against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, arguing that their human rights work had made them targets.
Journalist Veengas also criticised the verdict, saying those who spoke up for justice faced imprisonment while those defending the state’s actions advanced to higher positions.
