Full Breakdown
Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha Sentenced to 10 Years in Anti-Terrorism Court Over Cricket-Team Security Case
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In this breakdown
01
Core Event: Sentencing in Security Breach Case
On October 29 2026, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi sentenced human-rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha to ten years’ imprisonment each for a “security breach” linked to the movement of an international cricket team in October 2024. The verdict was delivered by Judge Tahir Abbas (spelled “Sipra” or “Supra” in different reports). In addition to the ten-year term, the court imposed fines and shorter sentences under three separate legal provisions, all to run concurrently.
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Background & Context
The case stems from an October 2024 incident when security barriers were erected along the designated route for a visiting cricket team. Prosecutors allege the couple removed barriers and obstructed police, endangering the team’s safety. Mazari and Chattha had earlier been arrested on January 23 over social-media posts deemed anti-state; a sessions court sentenced them to 17 years under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, a verdict the Supreme Court suspended on September 17, after which they were re-arrested in the security-breach case. Their defence repeatedly sought to postpone the ATC judgment pending petitions before the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
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Data & Statistics
- Primary sentence: 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment each (Section 7(h) of the Anti-Terrorism Act).
- Additional terms: 1 year under Section 186 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and 2 years under Section 353 of the PPC, each with a Rs 50,000 fine.
- Total statutory term: 13 years per defendant, reduced to an effective 10 years by applying Section 382 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which counts time already served.
- Total fines: Rs 200,000 per defendant (Rs 100,000 under the anti-terrorism provision plus Rs 50,000 under each PPC section).
- Trial details: Seven prosecution witnesses were examined; the defence filed written applications to defer the verdict and to transfer the case to another court.
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Official Statements & Responses
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar reiterated that Pakistan’s judiciary operates independently. Mazari’s mother, former human-rights minister Shireen Mazari, claimed the couple were denied the right to counsel and to key legal documents. The prosecution maintained that the couple’s actions “posed a security risk” and justified the use of anti-terrorism provisions. The defence argued that proceeding with the verdict violated procedural fairness because pending petitions had not been resolved.
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Criticism & Opposition
Domestic rights groups condemned the sentences, describing Mazari and Chattha as “prisoners of conscience” and asserting that the charges were retaliation for their advocacy on disappearances, minority rights, and press freedom.
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Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Name spelling: The husband appears as “Hadi Ali Chattha,” “Abdul Hadi Chattha,” and “Hadi Ali Chatha.”
- Judge’s surname: Reported as “Tahir Abbas Sipra,” “Tahir Abbas Supra,” and simply “Tahir Abbas.”
- Fine amounts: Some accounts list a Rs 100,000 fine under the anti-terrorism provision plus Rs 50,000 under each PPC section (total Rs 200,000); others mention a single Rs 100,000 fine per defendant.
- Sentence calculation: Most reports agree the effective term is ten years; one source notes the combined statutory term totals 13 years before concurrent running.
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Verbatim Quotes
- “Until our petitions are heard, the court cannot legally announce its verdict,” — Aimal Khan Mandokhail, defence lawyer
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What’s Next
The defence has filed petitions with the Supreme Court and the IHC seeking a stay of the ATC judgment and a transfer of the case. Both courts are expected to rule in the coming weeks, which could determine whether the ten-year sentences are upheld or suspended.