Islamabad, August 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Concern is growing over the deteriorating health of Pakistani human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, who is being held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, with the Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRC-Pakistan) calling the prison’s medical facilities “alarming”.
The rights body’s statement came after Imaan’s family raised concerns over her worsening health, which they said had persisted for around three weeks, and questioned whether adequate medical care was being provided inside the prison.
According to her family, Imaan has been suffering from a chest infection for the past week. A blood test reportedly showed an elevated white blood cell count, indicating an infection. The family said a chest X-ray was required to determine the cause and rule out potentially serious conditions, including tuberculosis, but alleged that the test had not yet been conducted by jail authorities.
The family also expressed concern about medical arrangements in the women’s section of Adiala Jail, alleging that inmates diagnosed with infectious diseases are not being isolated and continue to remain in contact with other prisoners and children.
Imaan and her husband, fellow human rights lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, were sentenced earlier this year by an Islamabad sessions court to a combined 17 years in prison and fined 36 million Pakistani rupees each in a case linked to social media posts.
The HRC-Pakistan called on authorities to provide immediate and adequate medical treatment to Imaan and other women prisoners. It said imprisonment does not take away an individual’s right to healthcare and that the state and prison administration are responsible for protecting the health, life and dignity of people in custody.
The rights body demanded an immediate chest X-ray and comprehensive medical assessment for Imaan, including transfer to an appropriate hospital if medically required. It also called for specialist medical care, dental services, essential medicines and diagnostic facilities for women prisoners.
The HRC-Pakistan further urged authorities to ensure safe and dignified medical isolation for prisoners suffering from infectious diseases.
It also called for fair and timely consideration of the pending legal petitions of Imaan and Hadi. Their applications seeking suspension of their sentences are scheduled to be heard by the Islamabad High Court on September 8, 2026.
The rights body urged the government and jail authorities not to ignore the concerns surrounding Imaan’s health, stressing that medical treatment for prisoners is a fundamental right.
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