Lawyer Imaan Mazari, husband arrested in Islamabad

The police have arrested lawyer and social activist Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha in Islamabad on Friday.

Imaan and Hadi were stopped by the police near Serena Chowk underpass and subsequently arrested, Aaj News reported citing sources. Both individuals were travelling in a Islamabad High Court Bar van. Imaan and Hadi are suspects in a controversial tweet case.

Sources stated that the suspects had arrived at the IHC from the IHC Bar, accompanied by the high court bar president, secretary, and other lawyers.

Condemning the arrest, IHC Bar President Wajid Gillani stated that the police broke the vehicle’s windows and subjected him, along with the bar secretary, to physical violence.

READ MORE: Court directs NCCIA to arrest Imaan, Hadi within ‘24 hours’

It is pertinent to mention that previously, in a written judgment issued by the Islamabad High Court regarding the controversial tweet case, the trial court’s order was nullified. The judgment directed that Imaan and Hadi should not be arrested in the current case.

The case against them was lodged by the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA). According to the FIR registered by the NCCIA, Imaan and her husband are accused of attempting to incite linguistic division through social media posts.

The FIR alleges that they held security forces responsible for the issue of missing persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The case was registered under Sections 9, 10, 11, and 26 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

Condemning the arrest today, the IHC Bar Association in a statement said stopping from appearing before court was an interference in the legal process and violation of the fundamental constitutional rights.

The association also announced to observe strike on Friday against the “illegal and unconstitutional” action.

Mother of Imaan, Shireen Mazari said she spoke to her daughter before they left for district court. “She knew they would be arrested and I should be prepared for multiple secret FIRs and arrests,” Shireen wrote on her X account, sharing a video of her daughter leaving in an IHC Bar Association vehicle. In the video, Imaan, replying to a query, said even if they could not reach the district court, it will be “they” who would be discredited. “It is their defeat, not ours.“