ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s legal community plans to protest and observe strikes on Monday after human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, received a combined 17-year prison sentence over social media posts critical of the military.
The Islamabad Bar Association (IBA), Islamabad Bar Council, and Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) announced a one-day strike and rally, denouncing the court’s ruling and the couple’s detention process. Mazari and Chattha, arrested on Friday en route to a court hearing, were accused under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) of promoting ethnic discord and linking the military to terrorism—charges they deny.
A district judge found the duo guilty under PECA but cleared them of hate speech allegations. The IBA called for a three-day strike from January 26–28, highlighting concerns over alleged police misconduct and claims of restricted access to legal counsel during the couple’s trial. The association demanded the sentence’s suspension pending review.
Protests are planned at Islamabad district courts, with IHCBA members also striking to discuss further action. In Karachi, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) will hold a demonstration urging support for free expression and civic freedoms.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated on social media that the verdict reflected accountability for actions. However, former minister Shireen Mazari alleged her daughter and son-in-law faced torture in custody, including denial of food, water, and basic rights. She criticized the judiciary for undermining due process, but authorities have not addressed these claims.
