Geneva, October 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
United Nations human rights experts have criticised Pakistan’s use of what they described as “vague and overbroad” counter-terrorism provisions against human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, calling for their immediate release and withdrawal of what the experts termed unfounded criminal and terrorism charges.
The experts’ remarks came after the couple were re-arrested shortly after a Pakistan Supreme Court division bench on September 17 granted them bail and suspended their sentences in a case related to social media posts.
The UN experts said they had previously raised concerns over the lawyers’ conviction for posts supporting local activists and criticising the military.
They said the decision to invoke an earlier case following the grant of bail “appears to be an attempt” to use the criminal justice system to punish freedom of expression and human rights advocacy.
The couple’s re-arrest was followed by proceedings before an Islamabad anti-terrorism court, which rejected a police request for 30 days of custody and instead sent them to jail on 14-day judicial remand. On September 22, an anti-terrorism court returned their bail petitions on the grounds that they did not contain signed powers of attorney, according to the experts.
The UN experts criticised the use of counter-terrorism provisions in cases involving human rights work, stressing that international standards require governments to protect lawyers from intimidation, harassment and improper interference. They also said lawyers should be protected from prosecution for legitimate professional activities and should be able to exercise their freedom of expression.
The experts called on Pakistan to withdraw charges based on the lawyers’ exercise of freedom of expression or legitimate legal work and release the couple. They also called for adequate access to legal counsel of their choice, family members and necessary medical care.
The development followed a joint statement by 15 international civil society organisations, including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), expressing concern over the couple’s detention.
The organisations called for the charges to be dropped where they relate to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, human rights advocacy and lawful professional duties. They also sought disclosure of the factual and legal basis for the re-arrests and judicial scrutiny of the use of Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act.
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