ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday disposed of a petition filed by lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, as infructuous, directing the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to decide on a petition filed by the couple in the security breach case.

On Oct 29, an Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) sentenced the couple to 10 years in prison each in the security breach case, pertaining to the disruption of an international cricket team’s security route and incitement to public unrest.

A three-member SC bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, heard the case.

During the hearing, Justice Mazhar observed that the matter had become infructuous following the conclusion of the trial and the couple’s conviction.

The Supreme Court subsequently directed the IHC to decide on the petition.

The two were being tried in jail in the 2024 case. 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.

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.