QUETTA: The Baloch Women Forum (BWF) has strongly condemned the arrest of human rights activist and lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali, describing the detentions as illegal, politically motivated and aimed at silencing voices speaking for victims of enforced disappearances.
In a statement issued by its central spokesperson, the BWF said that the arrests were a direct consequence of the couple’s consistent support for Baloch families affected by enforced disappearances and their advocacy for fundamental human rights. The forum said that Islamabad police used force during the arrests and also harassed members of the legal community who attempted to accompany the couple to court.
According to the BWF, the couple was produced before a trial court under conditions that violated principles of a fair trial, including restrictions on the entry of other lawyers. The forum further stated that despite an application being filed before the Islamabad High Court seeking the transfer of the case due to judicial bias, the trial court proceeded with the case and sentenced the couple to ten years’ imprisonment, even though proceedings were expected to remain suspended until the application was decided.
The Baloch Women Forum said such actions reflect a broader pattern of repression long experienced by people in Balochistan and now increasingly visible in the federal capital. It added that Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali were targeted not only for their legal work but also for their active role in supporting families of the disappeared, protesting human rights violations, and amplifying Baloch voices at a national level.
The forum also pointed out that Imaan Mazari’s Baloch identity has contributed to what it described as persistent harassment and intimidation by state institutions.
Emphasizing that both lawyers have remained peaceful and lawful in their activism, the BWF condemned what it termed as state-led harassment of human rights defenders and called for an immediate end to such practices. The forum urged authorities to uphold constitutional rights and review state policies toward activists raising concerns about enforced disappearances.
