A Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court has sentenced lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha to 10 years in prison in a 2024 security-breach case. The verdict was announced at Adiala Jail on Wednesday, October 29. Both have denied the charges against them.
Along with the 10-year terms, the court handed down concurrent sentences of one and two years, as well as fines. The written court order has not been published yet, so the details so far come from court reporting of the verdict.
The verdict
The case dates back to 2024 and concerns an alleged security breach. The court found both lawyers guilty and announced the sentences at Adiala Jail, where the proceedings were held. The 10-year terms are the main sentences, with the shorter terms running at the same time rather than one after another.
Both Mazari and Chattha denied the charges throughout the case. Their families and supporters have also rejected the verdict, and the family says it will challenge the decision in a higher court.
What the case was about
The charges relate to a security-breach matter from 2024. Full details of the prosecution’s case will become clearer once the written order is published. Until then, reporting of the case has focused on the verdict itself and the sentences handed down.
Mazari is a lawyer known for human rights work, and Chattha is also a practising lawyer. The case has drawn attention from legal circles and rights groups, who have followed the proceedings closely.
Reaction and denial
Both lawyers denied wrongdoing, and their families have said the verdict will be challenged. Supporters argue that the case raises questions about due process, while the prosecution’s position is reflected in the court’s guilty verdict.
As with other recent court proceedings in Pakistan, including PHC Refuses Immediate Relief on KP Emergency, Seeks Replies, the case is likely to remain in the headlines as it moves through the courts.
What happens next
The family says it will petition the Supreme Court against the verdict. That appeal will be the next step in the case, and its progress will show whether the sentences stand or are changed.
For now, the 10-year sentences stand as announced. Further detail is expected when the written order is made public.
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