Police in Islamabad on Friday took lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha into custody while they were en route to the district courts for an ongoing trial related to the content of their social media posts.
In a posting on X, Imaan’s mother Shireen Mazari alleged her daughter and son-in-law were “put in separate cars, and taken away to unknown locations.” The former minister further claimed police did not show any first information report (FIR), adding representatives of the bar association accompanying the duo were unable to halt the arrest.
“Fascism at its peak,” she said, while also sharing videos of police officers stopping Imaan’s vehicle and opening its doors.
The lawyer couple was due to appear in court today to continue proceedings in a controversial tweets case. Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka had issued arrest warrants for them last week over their failure to appear despite repeated summons.
According to Mazari, police also “used violence” against the accompanying bar leaders. A video statement from Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Wajid Gilani alleged Imaan and Hadi were “subjected to violence” during the arrest. “We spoke to the authorities yesterday and other institutions, and they made a commitment that Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha will not be arrested and will be given safe passage to go to the district court,” he said, noting the two had sought to secure a “blanket bail” over fears of arrest.
Gilani urged lawyers of both the IHC and the sessions court to reach the Sitara Market Women’s Police Station, where he claimed Imaan is being detained, and stage a strike for her release. “The authorities should stop this oppression. If they do not, then the 2007 lawyers’ movement will be launched again,” he warned.
Subsequently, both the IHCBA and the Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) issued separate statements condemning the arrest of the couple and announcing a complete strike today (Friday).
While it remains unclear why the two were taken into custody, local media has alleged it was related to a FIR filed by Gilani over an altercation outside the IHC.