Pakistani rights lawyer, husband remanded over creating ‘security risk’ to England cricket team

An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad, Pakistan approved on Tuesday a three-day physical remand for human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, following their arrest for allegedly breaching a security route arranged for the England cricket team.

The incident occurred on Oct. 25 at the Zero Point interchange as the England team traveled to the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for the final Test match, which Pakistan ultimately won.

Islamabad Police detained Mazari and Chattha, citing a complaint that accused the couple of confronting traffic officers and attempting to remove barricades.

Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain delivered the reserved verdict on Tuesday, allowing police additional time to investigate alleged security obstruction.

Prosecutors claimed that Mazari and Chattha’s actions, including removing barriers and inciting bystanders, posed a significant security risk. “This incident posed a serious security risk, especially given Pakistan’s history with international sports events,” argued Prosecutor Raja Naveed, recalling the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team.

During the hearing, Naveed sought a 30-day remand, emphasizing the need for forensic analysis of video evidence and voice matching. He warned that the alleged actions threatened Pakistan’s reputation as a safe venue for international sports events.

'Obstruction, not terrorism'

Defense attorneys Ataullah Kundi and Qaiser Imam contested the charges, arguing that the terrorism allegations were excessive and that the case involved minor obstruction rather than a serious offense. Kundi pointed to a medical report indicating Mazari sustained injuries during her detention, contending that while roadblocks were moved, this did not constitute terrorism. “This is obstruction, not terrorism,” he said.

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Imam argued that the road closures inconvenienced the public, including Mazari and Chattha, joking that even the English players may have been frustrated by the delays.

In his decision, Judge Zulqarnain approved a three-day remand, noting that further investigation was required to substantiate the charges.

Arrests criticized

The incident was criticized on social media by notable figures and organizations.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) issued a strong condemnation of the couple's detention, denouncing the arrests as based on “vague charges of ‘creating a security risk’.”

The HRCP highlighted the couple’s established reputations as “committed, well-respected human rights defenders” and described their detention as a stark indication of the diminishing freedoms for activists in Pakistan.

The commission urged their “immediate and unconditional” release and all charges to be dropped.

Journalist Hamid Mir also voiced opposition to the arrests, expressing in a post on X that the move “may satisfy the egos of some powerful people but it will give very bad name not only to [Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif] but to the whole state of Pakistan”.

Mahrang Baloch, leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, shared her concerns, noting she was “deeply troubled” by the detention of Ali and Imaan.

Emphasizing Imaan's dedication to her legal work, particularly in opposing enforced disappearances, Baloch stated that Imaan has been persistently “targeted” due to her legal advocacy.

She declared her “solidarity with Imaan, her family, and the legal community” amid what she described as a “complete disregard for the rule of law” in Pakistan.

Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar also took to X and shared his thoughts.

“Imaan and Hadi have always have been (sic) at the forefront for the rights of the helpless and marginalized. It’s their constitutional right to be informed of the charges against them. Under no circumstances can this information be withheld,” he wrote.