Amnesty International has strongly criticised Pakistan's judicial system after human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha were sentenced to ten years in prison each by an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad.

Yasmine Ahmed, Amnesty's senior director for regional human rights impact, described the convictions as an indictment of Pakistan's justice system, alleging that anti-terrorism laws were being misused to silence human rights defenders and suppress dissent. Amnesty called for the immediate release of both lawyers and the withdrawal of all charges against them.

Reaction beyond Amnesty

The condemnation has widened, with Human Rights Watch also calling on the Pakistani authorities to quash the convictions and release the pair, according to IANS.

The case, registered at Islamabad's Aabpara police station, concerns allegations that the couple interfered with security arrangements during an international cricket team's visit to Pakistan in October 2024, including the alleged removal of security barriers. The court imposed fines of 100,000 rupees each under the Anti-Terrorism Act, with lesser concurrent sentences under other provisions, giving an effective term of ten years each.

A case with a longer history

The two lawyers are known for representing activists and marginalised communities, including in cases involving enforced disappearances. In January 2026 they were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 to 17 years under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act over social media posts, but Pakistan's Supreme Court suspended those sentences and granted them bail on 17 September.

They were then arrested again the same day under separate anti-terrorism charges. The couple have rejected the charges, describing the case as harassment linked to their human rights work. No appeal outcome had been confirmed at the time of writing.