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• Resolution calls for prompt filing of pleas to suspend sentence, B-class facilities in jail
• Bar terms move ‘malicious’, cites free speech concerns
ISLAMABAD: More than 400 lawyers from Islamabad have rallied in support of detained rights activist Imaan Mazari and her spouse, Hadi Ali Chattha, unanimously backing a resolution that calls for immediate legal and administrative relief for the couple.
The Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) convened a General Body Meeting on Wednesday to deliberate on the detention of the couple, with a large number of lawyers expressing solidarity.
According to an official notification, a follow-up meeting is scheduled for April 21 at Shuhada Hall, District Courts Complex in Islamabad.
The resolution, submitted to the Islamabad Bar Council, Islamabad High Court Bar Association, and the Islamabad District Bar Association, called for the immediate filing of petitions to suspend the sentences of Ms Mazari and Mr Chattha.
It also urged the formation of a delegation of lawyers, including women members, to visit the jail and assess the conditions of their detention.
Prominent signatories included former High Court Bar president Riasat Ali Azad, as well as Attaullah Kundi, Babar Mumtaz, Haider Syed and Zainab Janjua.
The lawyers further called on authorities to grant B-class facilities to the detainees at Adiala jail, citing their educational background and professional status. Such facilities include access to a television, newspapers and regular meetings with family members.
The resolution stressed that in pending cases, the detainees should be produced before courts to ensure a fair trial, adding that conducting jail trials is contrary to the principles of justice.
Signatories described the action against Ms Mazari and Mr Chattha as “malicious” and “an infringement on freedom of expression,” stating that both are respected members of the legal fraternity who have consistently advocated for marginalised communities.
“Advocating for human rights and justice, including through social media, does not constitute a crime,” the resolution stated, warning that such cases amount to harassment of lawyers and hinder them from performing their professional duties.
The resolution concluded that the proceedings against the two lawyers violate fundamental rights, including the right to a fair trial, and called for immediate corrective measures.
On January 24, Ms Mazari and Mr Chattha were handed a total of 17 years in jail on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) by a sessions court in Islamabad, sparking outrage among rights groups, opposition parties, and other segments of society.
The lawyer duo was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment under Peca’s Section 10 (cyberterrorism), five years’ jail under Section 9 (glorification of an offence) and two years in prison under Section 26-A (false and fake information).
In the resolution, also shared by Imaan’s mother and former human rights minister Shireen Mazari on X, the lawyers expressed solidarity with Ms Mazari and Mr Chattha.
Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2026
