Islamabad, October 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Human rights organisations and activists in Pakistan have condemned the sentencing of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, to 10 years in prison in a case involving an alleged security breach.
The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) expressed serious concern over the sentences, questioning their proportionality and warning that the right to a fair trial, due process and effective judicial remedies must be protected.
“The severity of sentences raises concerns about proportionality and the protection of fundamental rights,” the commission said in a statement posted on X.
The Human Rights Council of Pakistan also voiced deep concern, saying punishment must be proportionate to the alleged offence and proceedings must ensure transparency and an effective defence. It questioned the use of anti-terrorism provisions and called for serious judicial review.
The council urged authorities to ensure an early hearing of the appeal and promptly decide applications for suspension of sentence and bail. It also called for guarantees of legal consultation, family meetings and treatment in accordance with human dignity.
Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch described the case as a “sham” and condemned what she called the punishment of people who speak for vulnerable communities. She said such verdicts risk further weakening public confidence in Pakistan’s justice system.
Defence of Human Rights Pakistan also condemned what it described as continued judicial harassment and reprisals against the two lawyers.
Lawyer Mirza Shahzad Akbar termed the convictions wrongful, alleging that the case had been heard in an unfair trial. He challenged senior journalists and television anchors to examine the proceedings publicly and question the circumstances surrounding the verdict.
The criticism from rights groups and activists has focused on the length of the sentences, the fairness of the proceedings and the implications for lawyers representing victims of human rights violations.
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