Witness accounts emerge; Politicians and journalists condemn the arrest of Imaan and Hadi

Lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, were arrested on Friday in Islamabad while reportedly on their way to the district courts, prompting immediate and strong condemnation from journalists, parliamentarians and the legal community, who called for their protection and a fair trial.

They were later remanded to 14 days of judicial remand by an Islamabad anti-terrorism court.

Read: Imaan and Hadi arrested, whereabouts not revealed: Shireen Mazari

“Growing insecurity”

Lawyer Mirza Moiz Baig said the arrests reflected what he described as the state’s “growing insecurity”, warning that a “series of malicious cases” against the two were aimed at silencing dissent.

He said the move was “calculated to have a chilling effect” on those who defend human rights and represent marginalized communities, adding that the couple’s criticism of the judiciary following recent amendments may also explain why they did not receive judicial redress.

Commenting on the likely timeline for the couple’s release, Baig said it was “unlikely” in the immediate term, adding that unless the Islamabad High Court quashed the case against them, the couple could remain in custody for “at least a week or ten days”.

‘Contempt for any semblance of rule of law’

Lawyer Asad Rahim Khan said the couple were “without exception, at the forefront of defending human rights in this country” and their bravery was “exemplary”.

He added that “making an arrest like this demonstrates this regime’s disdain for any semblance of the rule of law.”

He said that every bar association in every city and province “must make common cause for his immediate release.”

‘Motivated and manufactured’

Civil rights practitioner Asad Jamal said that based on the information available, one could “safely claim that these cases against Imaan and Hadi are motivated and fabricated.”

He said the provincial and federal governments had “weaponized” the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) as well as the Electronic Crimes Prevention Act (Peca).

“I think in the same way, the powerful sectors of the Pakistani state have decided to set an example for Imaan and Hadi by keeping them behind bars for months and even years. I can’t imagine it because this type of predatory behavior by state institutions and governments of the time is nothing new.”

‘Wider context of political victimization’

Lawyer and civil rights activist Jibran Nasir condemned the arrests, saying: “The witch hunt of lawyers Imaan and Hadi demonstrates that there is no tolerance for expressions of solidarity with Baloch voices.”

He added: “It must also be understood within the broader context of political victimization, particularly the imprisonment and treatment of Imran Khan, the use of Peca against journalists, the endless imprisonment of Ali Wazir, the military trials of civilians and the violent suppression of protests, whether for the PTI leadership, Baloch rights or to show support for Gaza.”

Nasir further criticized the judiciary and stated, “None of this can be separated from the connivance, silence and compliance of the higher judiciary, which has abdicated its public duty for the sake of personal comfort and security.”

Criticizing the establishment, he concluded: “Having stolen the elections and lost all legitimacy to govern, the regime’s insecurities force it to crush dissent with brute force. This is not the conduct of a self-confident state, but of one that constantly deceives itself by imposing silence on the oppressed.”

“The judiciary fails again”

Journalist Mariana Baabar claimed that the judiciary “tramples on its own laws” by not producing first information reports (FIRs), stating that Hadi and Imaan were “prepared” and “fearless”.

Former senator Mushahid Hussain said the arrests were a “travesty of the law and all norms of justice.”

He added that the rule of law must prevail and that both should be released immediately.

Former National MP Bushra Gohar similarly condemned the arrest, adding that “defending human rights and opposing oppression is not a crime.”

Lawyer Khadija Siddiqi called the incident an “abhorrent situation.”

Journalist Ahmad Noorani described the incident as “highly condemnable,” while journalist Hamid Mir said the arrest “would make this couple more powerful and more respectable.”

Lawyer Ahmed, former president of the Sindh High Court Bar Association, said the persecution of the couple for championing the causes of the oppressed was an embarrassment to the government, institutions and judges.

“The Bar, which had largely accepted the demolition of the judiciary, now appears helpless. It must stand firm!” he said in a post on X.

Human rights journalist Alifya Sohail also condemned the arrest, saying authorities had shown a “brutality” that was “still disconcerting.”

He described how Mazari was “grabbed by the neck and shalwar by masked men twice her size”, pulled out of an Islamabad High Court Bar Association van and dragged away in full view of the president and secretary of the bar association as she made her way to the Islamabad district courts.

Sohail added: “Every detail is more illegal than the last. There are no red lines left.”