{"id":23933,"date":"2025-11-28T21:01:38","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T21:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/protect-lawyers.org\/end-the-judicial-persecution-of-human-rights-lawyers-imaan-zainab-mazari-hazir-and-hadi-ali-chattha\/"},"modified":"2025-11-28T21:30:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T21:30:13","slug":"end-the-judicial-persecution-of-human-rights-lawyers-imaan-zainab-mazari-hazir-and-hadi-ali-chattha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/protect-lawyers.org\/de\/end-the-judicial-persecution-of-human-rights-lawyers-imaan-zainab-mazari-hazir-and-hadi-ali-chattha\/","title":{"rendered":"End the judicial persecution of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lawyers for Lawyers, the International Bar Association\u2019s Human Rights Institute, the Law Society of England and Wales, the International Commission of Jurists, and the International Observatory of Lawyers in Danger express deep concern over the ongoing judicial harassment of Pakistani human rights lawyers\u00a0Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir\u00a0and\u00a0Hadi Ali Chattha. We have received credible information indicating that the recent indictment and criminal proceedings against the couple, marred by serious irregularities and the denial of due process guarantees, are intended to obstruct their legitimate legal work and retaliate against them for exercising their right to freedom of expression. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Imaan Zainab Mazari\u00a0is a prominent human rights lawyer who has represented victims of\u00a0enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and custodial abuse, frequently challenging the legality of state practices carried out by the\u00a0military, police, and intelligence agencies. Her husband,\u00a0Hadi Ali Chattha, is a human rights lawyer and\u00a0criminal law specialist\u00a0who has defended individuals falsely accused of\u00a0blasphemy\u00a0and provided\u00a0pro bono legal support\u00a0through the\u00a0Asma Jahangir Legal Aid Cell\u00a0and\u00a0Justice Project Pakistan\u00a0in cases involving\u00a0sexual violence, enforced disappearances, and death row prisoners. Both lawyers have faced\u00a0targeted reprisals, including judicial harassment,\u00a0for their human rights and legal work, and their outspoken advocacy for accountability and the rule of law.<\/p>\n

The most recent criminal case against Mazari and Chattha stems from tweets posted between 2021\u20132025 that\u00a0criticized the Pakistani military\u2019s role in human rights violations. The First Information Report (FIR), filed by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCIA) on 22 August 2025, accuses them of \u2018inciting linguistic divisions\u2019\u00a0and\u00a0implying that the armed forces are complicit in terrorism. The FIR references commentary on social media on enforced disappearances, the treatment of peaceful political activists, and the State\u2019s counterterrorism and security policies \u2013 particularly with regards to the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. On this basis, the case was registered under sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016,[1]<\/a> exposing Mazari and Chattha to penalties ranging from three to fourteen years imprisonment and fines of up to PKR 50 million for their legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression, protected under international and Pakistani law.<\/p>\n

Following their formal indictment on 30 October 2025, the trial against Mazari and Chattha has progressed rapidly[2]<\/a> and has been\u00a0marred by procedural irregularities and apparent judicial bias, raising serious concerns about the fairness and legitimacy of the trial. Despite evidence of Chattha\u2019s presence in court, he was arrested<\/a> on 29 October for alleged non-appearance. The court proceeded to appoint state counsel without granting adequate time for the accused to secure legal representation. Hearings were consistently scheduled on short notice and the court reportedly<\/a> began recording evidence before formally framing charges and in the absence of defence counsel.<\/p>\n

In consecutive hearings requests for additional time to prepare a defence were denied, while applications to remove state-appointed counsel were dismissed without proper consideration. According to the defence,\u00a0 Mazari and Chattha have still been unable to secure counsel of their choice, as each selection has been made under pressure and from a severely limited pool of willing lawyers, with multiple practitioners reportedly declining representation due to pressure and threats.<\/p>\n

During the latest hearing on 24 November, the state\u2011appointed counsel declared<\/a> himself unable to effectively represent Mazari before the court, citing insufficient time to prepare and denial of access to the case file, while rejecting a list of pre-drafted cross\u2011examination questions received from the Prosecutor\u2019s office as a flagrant attempt to influence the proceedings.[3]<\/a> These practices point to systemic violations of fair-trial guarantees, including the right to choose counsel of one\u2019s choice, and cast doubt on the integrity of the proceedings.<\/p>\n

The ongoing trial is part of a\u00a0broader troubling trend of judicial persecution aimed at\u00a0exhausting the lawyers\u2019 time and resources,\u00a0discrediting their work, and\u00a0obstructing their ability to represent victims of state violence. Repeated summonses in cases on baseless allegations have severely disrupted their practice, forcing them to appear before multiple courts across the country, reportedly with the intent of diverting their attention from defending vulnerable clients.[4]<\/a> Mazari and Chattha are currently on bail in\u00a0six and five other cases, respectively, including\u00a0on anti-terrorism charges\u00a0linked to peaceful protest before the Islamabad High Court, disputes with traffic police, and speeches delivered at human rights rallies advocating\u00a0freedom of expression. These cases also appear to lack both legal and factual basis and are clearly related to their\u00a0exercise of the right to free expression.<\/p>\n

The undersigned organisations recall\u00a0Pakistan\u2019s obligations under the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0Principle 16<\/strong>, governments must \u201censure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (\u2026) and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognised professional duties, standards and ethics.\u201d<\/p>\n

Principle 23<\/strong>\u00a0affirms that \u201clawyers, like other citizens, are entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly,\u201d and that they \u201cshall have the right to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally,\u00a0Principle 18<\/strong>\u00a0emphasises that \u201clawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients\u2019 causes as a result of discharging their functions.\u201d<\/p>\n

These principles are also reflected in the\u00a0Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer<\/a>, which, once in force, will be open for accession by States worldwide.<\/p>\n

Mazari\u2019s and Chattha\u2019s right to\u00a0freedom of expression\u00a0is also protected under\u00a0Article 19 of Pakistan\u2019s Constitution, the\u00a0Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the\u00a0International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). As a signatory to the ICCPR, Pakistan is legally bound to refrain from acts that undermine the object and purpose of the treaty.<\/p>\n

In light of these concerns, the undersigned organisations urge the\u00a0Pakistani authorities\u00a0to:<\/p>\n