Pakistan: Continued Detention of Human Rights Lawyers Draws Rights Concerns

The continued detention of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, has drawn renewed concerns from rights groups over due process, freedom of expression and the use of Pakistan’s legal system against critical voices.

The couple was arrested on January 23 and sentenced the following day to a combined 17 years in prison in connection with social media posts. According to Amnesty International, the sentences included terms under Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for charges including cyber terrorism and spreading “fake and false information”.

The case centred on posts in which the lawyers expressed solidarity with Baloch and Pashtun activists and criticised the Pakistani military. Amnesty International has described their detention as arbitrary and called for their convictions to be quashed and for their immediate and unconditional release.

According to the Columbia Political Review report cited in the source material, the proceedings raised questions over due process and judicial independence. The report alleged that the couple was not shown an arrest warrant or FIR at the time of arrest and that they were taken to an undisclosed location following their detention.

The report further alleged that the couple was not permitted to enter the courtroom during proceedings before an anti-terrorism court and was denied adequate legal assistance. Their court appearance was conducted virtually and lasted less than a minute, according to the report.

The report also raised questions over the jurisdiction of the trial court, noting that a transfer application was pending before the High Court when the proceedings took place.

Amnesty International has separately raised concerns over the couple’s continued imprisonment. In September, the organisation said their appeal against the conviction had yet to be heard and highlighted health concerns involving Imaan during her detention.

The rights organisation said Imaan had experienced serious health problems in detention and required urgent medical care. Amnesty also called on Pakistani authorities to quash the convictions and release both lawyers unconditionally.

The case has also seen developments at Pakistan’s Supreme Court. On September 17, the court suspended the couple’s sentences and granted them bail, but they were subsequently taken into custody in connection with another case after their release was being processed, according to Amnesty International.

Amnesty said the couple had been re-arrested over allegations linked to their participation in a peaceful protest, while Pakistan’s authorities have pursued separate charges against them.

The continued proceedings have kept the case at the centre of wider concerns over freedom of expression, treatment of human rights defenders and safeguards for fair trial proceedings in Pakistan.