Islamabad, September 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
An independent collective of lawyers, civil society members and academics in Pakistan has condemned the re-arrest of human rights advocates Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha by Islamabad Police.
In a statement signed by 243 people, including lawyers, academics and journalists, the collective said the two advocates were re-arrested on September 17, 2026, only hours after the Supreme Court of Pakistan suspended their 17-year sentences under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and ordered their release on bail.
The statement said Mazari-Hazir and Chattha were due to be released after nearly nine months of incarceration following a trial that, according to the collective, was marred by violations of constitutional and international fair-trial and due-process guarantees.
The collective alleged that a separate FIR registered against the two on March 22, 2025, was subsequently produced and activated to obstruct and circumvent the Supreme Court’s release order.
According to the statement, the FIR alleges that Mazari-Hazir and Chattha chanted “anti-government” slogans during a protest.
“Crucially, at the time of registration, no section of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) had been added” and charges under Section 7 of the ATA appeared to have been added later by hand, the statement alleged.
The collective called on Pakistani authorities to immediately drop all charges and end criminal proceedings against the two advocates in connection with what it described as their legitimate professional activities and exercise of freedom of expression.
It also sought guarantees for their safety and due-process rights, including protection from further arbitrary detention, ill-treatment or intimidation.
The statement further urged authorities to ensure that lawyers in Pakistan can perform their professional duties without fear of reprisals or undue restrictions, in accordance with international standards.
On Friday, Amnesty International also condemned the re-arrest of Mazari-Hazir and Chattha.
“Imaan and Hadi’s re-arrest dispels any pretence that the charges against them are anything other than a politically motivated attempt to punish them for their human rights work,” said Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia.
Pant said the case demonstrated what he described as the authorities’ willingness to use the legal system against critical voices.
“The Pakistani authorities must stop misusing the justice system to target Imaan and Hadi. They must be released immediately and unconditionally, with no further charges to prolong their detention,” he said.
Pant added that the two advocates should be free to meet their families and friends and continue their work representing victims of human rights violations.
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