‘Are they terrorists?’ Mazari questions Imaan, Hadi’s sentences

Former federal minister Shireen Mazari has criticised the court’s decision to sentence her daughter, human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari, and her son-in-law, Hadi Ali Chattha, to 13 years in prison each, questioning the severity of the punishment and the evidence presented during the trial.

Speaking to the media at Dahgal checkpoint, Mazari expressed disbelief over the sentences, sarcastically remarking that the judge appeared to consider the two lawyers major terrorists to have handed them such lengthy prison terms.

Mazari claimed that both Imaan and Hadi had successfully challenged at least one allegation against them. She alleged that no witness had presented credible evidence to substantiate the accusations against the two lawyers.

She also questioned the basis of the case, arguing that it did not involve any genuine issue of terrorism. According to Mazari, the proceedings raised serious concerns about the treatment of the defendants and their ability to defend themselves.

The former minister further alleged that Imaan and Hadi had not been allowed to meet their lawyers during the case, describing the restriction as a serious concern regarding their access to legal representation.

Mazari maintained that her daughter and son-in-law were not members of any political party but were human rights lawyers who had raised their voices for poor and underprivileged people.

She claimed that their work on behalf of disadvantaged communities had made them unwelcome to certain quarters, suggesting that their advocacy had contributed to the difficulties they were facing.

Her remarks came in response to the court’s decision to impose lengthy prison sentences on the two lawyers. The case has drawn attention to questions surrounding the allegations, the evidence presented during the trial and the defendants’ right to a fair legal process.

Mazari’s statements reflect her objections to the verdict and her concerns about the treatment of the two lawyers. Her allegations regarding the trial and the evidence were not independently established in her media remarks.