Summary An anti-terrorism court sentenced Imaan Mazari and husband Hadi Ali Chattha to 10 years each in the barricade removal case.
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – An anti-terrorism court has sentenced lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chatha, to 10 years in prison each in a case involving the removal of barricades and interference with official duties.
The verdict was announced by Judge Tahir Abbas Supra at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where the proceedings were held.
The court also imposed fines under three separate legal provisions. According to the court order, the sentences under the three individual provisions totalled 13 years for each defendant. However, the benefit of Section 182 resulted in the effective prison term being set at 10 years each.
The Anti-Terrorism Court delivered its ruling in the case concerning the removal of barricades and alleged interference with government duties. Both defendants were handed prison sentences along with financial penalties.
The case was registered against Mazari and Chatha on October 25, 2024. The court appointed a state counsel to represent them during the proceedings.
State counsel Atif Mahmood cross-examined the witnesses presented in the case, while the prosecution produced a total of seven witnesses.
The court formally indicted Mazari and Chatha on October 7. The proceedings subsequently continued with evidence presented by the prosecution and the examination of witnesses.
The case centred on allegations linked to the removal of barricades and interference with official duties. The court imposed sentences under three separate provisions and also ordered the defendants to pay fines of Rs50,000 under the relevant provisions, according to the reported court order.
Rearrests
The lawyer couple has been in custody since January 23, when they were arrested in a case registered over a protest outside the Islamabad High Court.
The next day, a sessions court sentenced them to 17 years on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) in a case linked to controversial social media posts.
After months of proceedings, the Supreme Court on September 17 suspended their sentences in the tweets case and granted them bail against Rs200,000 surety bonds each, pending a final decision by the Islamabad High Court.
The relief did not last. Within hours, Islamabad police arrested the couple again in connection with another case and presented them before an anti-terrorism court (ATC).
