Islamabad: Prominent human rights lawyer Iman Mazari was arrested in Islamabad after her vehicle was stopped near the Serena Chowk underpass. Iman Mazari was traveling with fellow lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha from the Islamabad High Court Bar Association to the District Court.
According to sources, both lawyers were traveling in a van belonging to the Islamabad High Court Bar Association. The van also had the Association’s President Wajid Gilani and Manzoor Jajja on board.
It is worth recalling that in the controversial tweet case, the Islamabad High Court, in its written judgment, had set aside the trial court’s order. The judgment clearly stated that Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha should not be arrested in the present case.
According to the Islamabad High Court’s decision, Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were given four days to cross-examine witnesses. However, it was also stated that if they failed to appear before the trial court within the stipulated period, the order would be considered ineffective.
It should be noted that Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha have been actively raising their voices against human rights violations in Pakistan. Both lawyers have also represented the families of forcibly disappeared persons from Balochistan and leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee.
Human rights organizations, Baloch political circles, and the families of missing persons from Balochistan have expressed serious concern over the ongoing trial against Iman Mazari. These groups say that she is being targeted for taking a stand against the ongoing enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
