ATC sentences Imaan, Hadi to 10 years in security breach case

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court on Thursday sentenced human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, to 10 years in prison each in the security breach case. Imaan and Hadi were being tried in jail in the 2024 case pertaining to the alleged disruption of an international cricket team’s security route and incitement to public unrest. The couple, accused of removing barriers from the route, was indicted on Oct 7. A formal trial commenced after both lawyers pleaded not guilty. Both were on bail in this case prior to the verdict. Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra announced the verdict in the case at Adiala jail on Thursday, where the trial was conducted. The sentence was handed down under three separate legal provisions.

According to the judgment, a copy of which is available with Dawn , the two were sentenced to ten years along with a fine of Rs100,000 each under Section 7 (h) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, as defined under Section 6 (2) (m) — serious coercion or intimidation of a public servant in order to force him to discharge or to refrain from discharging his lawful duties. The court further handed down a one-year sentence and fined Rs50,000 each under Section 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Imaan and Hadi were also sentenced to two years each under Section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the PPC. All the sentences will run concurrently, the judgment stated. Justice Sipra held that the two were “jointly responsible for the offence committed under joint object and common intention”. He stated that the objective of the accused was to “compromise the security arrangements through pressuring security officials”. While the…