In a dramatic turn of events on January 23, 2026, human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, were arrested by police in Islamabad while traveling from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Bar to the district and sessions court.
The couple was stopped near the Serena Chowk underpass, where police allegedly broke the vehicle’s windows and assaulted accompanying lawyers, including IHC Bar President Wajid Ali Gilani and the secretary.
Details of the Arrest and Immediate Aftermath
Sources reported that Imaan and Hadi were en route in an IHC Bar van, accompanied by bar officials and other lawyers, when the interception occurred. Their mobile phones were confiscated, and they were placed in separate vehicles before being taken to undisclosed locations.
Shireen Mazari, Imaan’s mother and a former federal minister, confirmed the arrest on social media, expressing concern over the unknown whereabouts.
Gilani condemned the action, stating that police had violated assurances of safe passage given the previous day. He called for lawyers from the IHC and sessions court to gather at the Sitara Market women’s police station, where Imaan was reportedly held, and announced a strike in protest.
Legal Context and Ongoing Cases
The arrest stems from a case filed by the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), accusing the couple of inciting linguistic division through social media posts about missing persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Sections 9, 10, 11, and 26 of PECA were invoked, which could carry up to 14 years in prison.
This occurred despite a recent IHC judgment nullifying a trial court’s order and directing that Imaan and Hadi not be arrested in this specific case. The couple had previously secured protective bail in a separate terrorism and attempted murder case related to a 2025 protest by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), where they were accused of assaulting police and vandalizing vehicles.
Imaan, daughter of former human rights minister Shireen Mazari, is known for her advocacy on issues like enforced disappearances and has faced multiple arrests in the past. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from the legal community, with calls for their immediate release. As of now, no official statement from the police or FIA has been issued regarding the exact charges or their current location.