Pakistani police arrested prominent human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, on January 23, 2026, as they were en route to a court hearing in Islamabad related to controversial social media posts. Mazari-Hazir, a critic of Pakistan’s military, faces multiple charges that remain ambiguous regarding the cause of the arrest. Her mother, former human rights minister Dr. Shireen Mazari, confirmed they were taken to unknown locations, highlighting the situation as a display of fascism in power. Videos revealed aggressive police actions during the arrest, which the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) deemed unlawful. They plan protests in response to the incident, recalling the 2007 lawyers’ movement.
The case stems from a complaint alleging the couple shared content sympathetic to hostile groups. Despite previous bail, their legal challenges have intensified. The Independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned the arrests and demanded clarity on their whereabouts. Mazari-Hazir had anticipated “grave injustice” leading up to her arrest, reflecting ongoing issues of unlawful detention in Pakistan.
