Islamabad, Jan 23 (ABC): Activist and lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, were arrested on Friday in Islamabad, according to former federal minister Shireen Mazari.
In a post on X, Shireen Mazari said the couple was detained by police, placed in separate vehicles, and taken to undisclosed locations. She alleged that no first information report (FIR) was presented at the time of arrest and that efforts by a lawyers’ bar association to intervene were unsuccessful.
The former lawmaker strongly criticised the arrests, calling them an example of “fascism at its peak”.
The arrests came as Imaan and Hadi were scheduled to appear before a sessions court in a case related to controversial social media posts. A day earlier, the couple had failed to appear in court despite repeated summons, prompting Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka to issue arrest warrants on January 16.
Shireen Mazari also shared videos showing police vehicles following the lawyers’ car before stopping it and opening its doors. In separate posts, she alleged that police used force during the operation, including breaking the vehicle’s windows and manhandling lawyers present at the scene.
She claimed the action was taken to prevent further embarrassment during court proceedings, stating that the case had been exposed during cross-examination and that the technical officer involved had reportedly resigned.
The former minister further alleged that police also used violence against Imaan and Hadi during the arrest.
Meanwhile, Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Wajid Ali Gilani, who was accompanying Imaan at the time, confirmed the arrest in a video message. He said authorities had assured him a day earlier that the couple would not be arrested and would be provided safe passage to the district court.
Gilani said the couple, fearing arrest, had approached Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar to raise concerns, but the court did not convene on Friday.
According to Gilani, Imaan and Hadi, along with their legal team, were en route to the sessions court when police intercepted their vehicles and used force, breaking windows and forcibly removing the couple.
He called on lawyers from both the Islamabad High Court and the district courts to gather at the Sitara Market women’s police station, where Imaan was reportedly taken, and announced a strike in protest.