Amnesty International Condemns Re-arrest of Pakistani Human Rights Lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha
- Human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha were re-arrested on 17 September 2026, just hours after the Supreme Court of Pakistan suspended their 17-year prison sentences...
- The Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, had earlier ordered the release of the couple against surety bonds of Rs200,000 each,...
- As paperwork for their release was being processed at approximately 9:30 p.m., police took the couple into custody on new allegations.
Human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha were re-arrested on 17 September 2026, just hours after the Supreme Court of Pakistan suspended their 17-year prison sentences and granted them bail. The sudden police action inside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi drew immediate condemnation from Amnesty International, which called the move a politically motivated attempt to punish the legal advocates for their human rights work.
Supreme Court Bail Upended at Adiala Jail Gates
The Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, had earlier ordered the release of the couple against surety bonds of Rs200,000 each, pending final appeals before the Islamabad High Court.
New Charges Brought Over Peaceful Protest
As paperwork for their release was being processed at approximately 9:30 p.m., police took the couple into custody on new allegations. According to Amnesty International, the fresh charges stem from their attendance at a peaceful protest where they were accused of chanting anti-government slogans, blocking roads, and assaulting public servants under the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Amnesty International Condemns Retaliatory Detention
“Imaan and Hadi’s re-arrest dispels any pretence that the charges against them are anything other than a politically motivated attempt to punish them for their human rights work,” said Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia.
“These latest charges, brought against them for simply attending a peaceful protest, are not only absurd but an insult to their lifelong commitment to human rights.”
Amnesty International
Eight Months of Escalating Legal Battles
The legal saga for the couple has involved multiple jurisdictions and detentions over the past eight months. They were initially taken into custody on 23 January 2026 and later sentenced to terms ranging between 10 and 17 years. Additional proceedings handled by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency also targeted Chattha with non-bailable warrants issued by an Islamabad court over controversial online commentary.
International bodies have repeatedly scrutinized the legal proceedings against the couple. The International Commission of Jurists previously stated that the convictions raised serious concerns regarding the treatment and prosecution of lawyers in the country.
Remanded Back to Adiala Amid Continuing Appeals
“The Pakistani authorities must stop misusing the justice system to target Imaan and Hadi. They must be released immediately and unconditionally, with no further charges to prolong their detention.”
Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International
Following their transfer from Adiala Jail on the night of 17 September, an anti-terrorism judge ordered the couple remanded back to the facility for 14 days under the newly registered case. Their legal team continues to pursue avenues through the Islamabad High Court to challenge the ongoing detention and secure their freedom.