Rights activist and lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, spent a second consecutive night at the office of Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) President Wajid Gilani, citing fears of arrest amid a heavy police presence around the Islamabad High Court.
The couple had obtained pre-arrest bail on Wednesday in a case dating back to July 2025. Despite this, they did not appear at a separate hearing on Thursday concerning a controversial tweet case. Mazari told visitors she was willing to surrender, stating, “We do not want any concession. We are sitting here to surrender. We will go ourselves – just tell us how many cases have been registered against us.”
District Bar Islamabad President Naeem Gujar criticized the heavy police deployment, saying authorities had “cordoned off the High Court from all four sides” and lawyers were being searched and harassed. Gujar claimed, “The boots of lawyers’ vehicles are being checked, and lawyers are being harassed,” appealing to the Prime Minister, Interior Minister, and Army Chief. He also demanded a complete list of cases against Mazari and Chattha to ensure proper legal procedure.
Zafar Khokhar, Chairman of the Islamabad Bar Council Executive Committee, echoed concerns, warning that the situation resembled a “law of the jungle” and emphasizing that if the couple had committed any crime, they must receive a fair trial. IHCBA President Wajid Gilani also cautioned that the Bar would take action if the couple’s legal rights were ignored, stating, “When someone files a bail application, no one has the right to harass them.”
Mazari and Chattha initially sought refuge at the Bar office on Tuesday night after arrest warrants were issued in connection with a newly surfaced FIR at Kohsar Police Station, Islamabad, dated July 26, 2025. The FIR followed a protest by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and appeared shortly after the Islamabad High Court reinstated their bail in a separate Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 case.
Fearing arrest, the couple stayed at the Bar office overnight, with Gilani assuring them: “Sit in my office. No one will arrest you from here.” The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) criticized the FIR as “fabricated” and expressed concern over the ongoing harassment of the couple, highlighting broader issues of legal rights and protection.
This incident has sparked national debate about law enforcement practices, legal protections, and human rights in Islamabad.
Read more: Imaan Mazari and Husband Granted Bail in Security Case
