PTBP Web Desk
The arrest of lawyer and social activist Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha in Islamabad on Friday has triggered strong reactions from the legal community and civil society, raising serious questions about the enforcement of court orders and the handling of sensitive cybercrime cases in Pakistan. The couple was taken into custody by police near Serena Chowk underpass, despite an earlier Islamabad High Court (IHC) judgment that explicitly barred their arrest in the same case.
According to Aaj News, police intercepted the couple while they were traveling in a vehicle belonging to the Islamabad High Court Bar Association. The arrest took place shortly after they had arrived at the IHC premises, accompanied by senior members of the bar, including the bar president and secretary. The dramatic nature of the arrest, combined with allegations of police violence, has intensified the controversy surrounding the case.
The Islamabad High Court Bar Association strongly condemned the police action. Bar President Wajid Gillani stated that law enforcement officials not only stopped the bar vehicle but also broke its windows and used physical force against him and the bar secretary during the arrest.
Gillani termed the incident an attack on the independence of the legal profession and demanded immediate accountability. Lawyers present at the scene described the arrest as unlawful and provocative, particularly because it occurred in the presence of senior bar representatives and inside a high-security zone of the federal capital.
The incident has sparked widespread debate among lawyers, human rights activists, and political observers, who see the arrest as part of a broader pattern of pressure on dissenting voices through cybercrime laws.
A crucial aspect of the controversy is the fact that the Islamabad High Court had already nullified the trial court’s order in the same controversial tweet case. In its written judgment, the IHC clearly stated that Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha should not be arrested in this matter.
Legal experts argue that Friday’s arrest directly contradicts the spirit, if not the letter, of the high court’s ruling. They point out that such actions undermine public confidence in the rule of law and raise concerns about the selective enforcement of judicial decisions.
So far, the police have not issued a detailed public explanation clarifying how the arrest aligns with the IHC judgment, further fueling speculation and criticism.
The case against Imaan Mazari and her husband was registered by the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). According to the FIR, the couple is accused of attempting to incite linguistic and regional division through social media posts.
The FIR alleges that their online statements blamed security forces for the issue of missing persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, a sensitive subject that has long remained a source of political tension and human rights concern in Pakistan.
The case has been registered under Sections 9, 10, 11, and 26 of PECA, which deal with offenses related to glorification of an offense, cyber terrorism, hate speech, and unauthorized use of identity information.
The arrest has once again reignited the debate around the use of PECA laws against journalists, lawyers, activists, and political workers. Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that the cybercrime law is often used to suppress dissent and criminalize online speech that challenges state institutions.
Imaan Mazari, known for her outspoken advocacy on human rights issues, has previously faced multiple legal cases related to her activism. Supporters argue that the repeated use of cybercrime charges against her reflects a troubling pattern of harassment rather than legitimate law enforcement.
International watchdogs, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have also criticized Pakistan’s cybercrime framework for lacking sufficient safeguards against abuse.
Following the arrest, several lawyers’ bodies and civil rights groups demanded the immediate release of the couple and called for an inquiry into police conduct. The Islamabad High Court Bar Association is expected to raise the matter formally before the court and seek contempt proceedings against the officers involved.
Senior lawyers noted that arresting individuals from inside a bar vehicle, in the presence of bar office-bearers, sends a dangerous signal about the shrinking space for legal protection and professional autonomy.
The incident has also drawn attention on social media, where hashtags demanding justice for Imaan Mazari began trending within hours of the arrest.
