Islamabad: Human Rights Lawyer Imaan Mazari and Husband Arrested Despite Court Protection Order
ISLAMABAD – Pakistani human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chatha were arrested by police in Islamabad despite a High Court order granting them protection from arrest in an ongoing case.The arrests occurred near Serena Chowk underpass when police stopped their vehicle. The couple was traveling from the Islamabad High Court Bar…
ISLAMABAD – Pakistani human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chatha were arrested by police in Islamabad despite a High Court order granting them protection from arrest in an ongoing case.
The arrests occurred near Serena Chowk underpass when police stopped their vehicle. The couple was traveling from the Islamabad High Court Bar to the District Court in an official Islamabad High Court Bar Association van at the time of their detention.
Islamabad High Court Bar President Wajid Gilani and senior lawyer Manzoor Jajja were also accompanying them when the arrests were made, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the police action.
The arrests come in connection with a controversial social media posts case. Prior to their detention, both Mazari and Chatha had publicly declared they would not back down from their stance, stating they were prepared to go to jail if necessary.
The Islamabad High Court had previously issued a written order declaring a trial court’s arrest warrant null and void, explicitly directing that Mazari and Chatha should not be arrested in the current case. The High Court had granted them four days to cross-examine witnesses, stipulating that the protection order would remain valid provided they appeared before the trial court.
Imaan Mazari is known for her work on human rights cases in Pakistan and has been a vocal advocate on issues related to civil liberties and constitutional rights.
The arrests have sparked concerns among legal circles about the implementation of court orders and the treatment of lawyers in ongoing legal proceedings. The Islamabad High Court Bar Association has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident.
