Several prominent human rights organizations have strongly criticized the ongoing detention of Pakistani human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, labeling their imprisonment as “unlawful.” Imaan and Hadi have spent 150 days in jail, sparking renewed concerns about their situation. Amnesty International, on its social media platform X, highlighted the 150 days of “unlawful imprisonment” of the lawyers, emphasizing that their appeal has not been heard despite repeated efforts by their legal team. The delay in the appeal process contrasts sharply with the swift trial that had procedural irregularities, including limited time for cross-examining key witnesses.
Another human rights group, Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ), expressed serious apprehension over the continuous detention of Imaan and Hadi for 150 days, raising questions about due process and the diminishing space for dissent in Pakistan. BVJ emphasized the importance of justice, accountability, fairness, and freedom, noting that the silence from institutions only exacerbates the sense of injustice. The families of the detained lawyers are still waiting for a resolution, while their supporters continue to advocate for their release. The BVJ stressed that the detention of individuals for their beliefs and peaceful advocacy poses significant concerns regarding fundamental rights and due process.
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) recently challenged a Pakistan Supreme Court order regarding the case, which directed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to decide on the sentence suspension pleas of Imaan and Hadi within two weeks. Despite the deadline passing, the IHC adjourned the hearing at the prosecution’s request. In January, a sessions court in Islamabad sentenced Imaan and Hadi to a total of 17 years in prison and imposed hefty fines on them for various charges related to social media posts. The arrests and convictions of these human rights lawyers by Pakistani authorities have sparked global criticism.
