Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment under anti-terrorism law

On 29 October 2026, the Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad convicted human rights defenders, Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, under section 7(h) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 and sections 186 and 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The defenders were each sentenced to ten years’ in prison. The convictions are linked to an incident on 25 October 2024, when the human rights defenders allegedly removed traffic barriers on a road in Islamabad during the transportation of a visiting international cricket team.

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Imaan Mazari is a human rights lawyer who has represented countless victims of human rights violations, taking up cases of enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings, arbitrary arrest and custodial violations. Through her work, she has guaranteed access to justice, redress for human rights defenders, victims and their families against the oppressive practices of state authorities, especially the military, police, and intelligence agencies. Hadi Ali Chattha is a human rights lawyer who has represented countless victims of false blasphemy cases, sexual violence, rape and enforced disappearances in Pakistan. He has worked with the Justice Project Pakistan in cases on death-row prisoners and the Asma Jahangir Legal Aid Cell.

On 29 October 2026, the Anti-Terrorism Court sentenced Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha on three counts; ten years’ imprisonment and a fine of PKR 100,000 (equivalent to 325 EUR) under section 7(h) of the Anti-Terrorism Act for ‘acts of terrorism’; one year imprisonment and a fine of PKR 50,000 (equivalent to 162.50 EUR) under section 186 of the Penal Code for ‘obstructing a public servant’; and two years’ imprisonment and a fine of PKR 50,000 under section 353 of the Penal Code for ‘assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging duty.’ The sentences are to run concurrently with the longest sentence. This sets the total term to ten years’ imprisonment.

The Anti-Terrorism Court acquitted the defenders of ‘criminal intimidation’, ‘criminal conspiracy’ and ‘rioting as members of an unlawful assembly’. The Court recognised in its own judgment that the act of removing a barrier appeared to be “a very common nature ordinary type of incident”. However, it nonetheless held that it amounted to terrorism as it concerned security arrangements for a foreign cricket team holding the status of state guests. The prosecution relied exclusively on the testimony of police officials. No independent witness was produced, although the incident allegedly took place on a public road during morning traffic.

In their statements before the Court, Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha denied the charges. They alleged that the case was fabricated to protect police officials from accountability for the events of 25 October 2024. Imaan Mazari stated that a police offical threw a barrier at her lower abdomen, causing her to fall. During the trials, the defenders also stated that they were kept in a cage in the courtroom, which prevented effective communication with their legal counsel and with the Court. Their lawyers reported being unable to meet them in jail to prepare their defence.

On 26 October 2026, the defenders had filed a petition before the Supreme Court to overturn the High Court’s refusal on 19 October 2026 to stay the trial, pending examination of their appeals against the terrorism charges. However, the Anti-Terrorism Court announced its verdict three days later while an application to transfer the case to another court was pending, on the basis that only a photocopy of the application had been placed on record, without proof that the application had been filed.

On 10 October 2026, the Anti-Terrorism Court had dismissed the defenders’ petitions challenging the framing of the charges and the inclusion of terrorism provisions brought against them on 7 October 2026. The defenders had not been brought to Court to be charged, rather made to join via video link from prison. Their lawyers objected that they had not been given the case documents or allowed to meet with them. Following this, the defenders and their lawyers boycotted the hearing on 10 October 2026.

The recent convictions are linked to one of three criminal cases brought against the defenders in a sustained pattern of judicial harassment. On 17 September 2026, the Supreme Court of Pakistan suspended the 17-year sentence imposed on each human rights defender under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and ordered their release on bail. Within hours, and before they could be released, Islamabad police re-arrested Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha inside Adiyala Jail before their release orders had been received. The re-arrest was in connection with a separate case which had been registered against them at Kohsar police station on 22 March 2025 in connection with a protest. A section of the Anti-Terrorism Act was later added to that case.

For several years, the authorities in Pakistan have systematically targeted Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha due to their representation of jailed Baloch human rights defenders including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, and speaking out against human rights violations in Balochistan, Khyber Phaktunkwa Province, by military and intelligence agencies. They have also been targeted as a result of defending clients in false blasphemy cases and victims of enforced disappearances. Imaan Mazari has been subjected to numerous false allegations in recent years, including the conviction under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Anti Terrorism Act (PECA) in 2026. In recent years, there have also been concerns regarding attempts to intimidate, and even arrest the two human rights defenders on false allegations of blasphemy by the Pakistani police.

Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the conviction and sentencing of Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha under anti-terrorism legislation. Front Line Defenders believes they are being targeted solely for their legitimate human rights work. The use of terrorism charges to prosecute the alleged removal of a traffic barrier, at the end of an accelerated jail trial, is a gross misuse of counter-terrorism law. Front Line Defenders considers this conviction to be part of a sustained pattern of successive criminal proceedings designed to keep the two lawyers in detention, in disregard of the Supreme Court’s order for their release. It contributes to a chilling effect on the work of lawyers and human rights defenders in Pakistan who represent victims of abuses committed by the State.

Front Line Defenders calls on the Government of Pakistan to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha and dismiss all criminal convictions and cases against them;
2. Pending release, ensure that Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha are guaranteed their safety in detention, immediate access to lawyers, family members and medical attention;
3. Conduct an immediate, independent and effective investigation into the allegations of ill-treatment during their arrests on 23 January 2026 and 17 September 2026, and into the injury reported by Imaan Mazari on 25 October 2024, with a view to holding those responsible to account;
4. Cease the abuse of laws including PECA and the Anti Terrorism Act as well as counter terror measures to target dissent in Pakistan and move towards repeal or reform of regressive legislation;
5. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Pakistan are able to freely carry out their human rights work without the fear of reprisals and free from all restrictions, including judicial harassment.