Lawyers’ body to boycott Islamabad court proceedings on Saturday in protest against Imaan, Hadi’s rearrest

The Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) has announced plans to boycott court proceedings in Islamabad on Saturday (September 19) in protest of the rearrest of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha. The couple was arrested the previous day in a separate case following the Supreme Court's release of their 17-year sentences under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) for their social media posts.

After their release, the police arrested the pair outside Adiala jail on charges of chanting anti-government slogans and blocking roads, leading to their rearrest and detention at an anti-terrorism court. The IBA expressed concern over the actions, stating that they undermined the integrity of judicial proceedings and violated fundamental rights and the rule of law.

The association demanded the release of Imaan and Hadi and called for transparency regarding the cases and circumstances of their arrests. Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) have also called for the couple's immediate and unconditional release, condemning the arrests as politically motivated attempts to punish them for their human rights advocacy.