Journalists and lawyers condemn rearrest of Imaan and Hadi

Key Takeaways

Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha were rearrested hours after Supreme Court suspended their sentences.
The couple was sentenced to 17 years for social media posts under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.
Critics say the arrests are a mockery of justice and a violation of the rule of law.

Human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, were rearrested on Thursday, just hours after the Supreme Court suspended their sentences in a controversial social media posts case.

The couple, who were sentenced to 17 years in jail under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), were initially released on bail by the Supreme Court. However, they were quickly re-arrested by Islamabad police personnel outside Adiala jail and produced before an anti-terrorism court.

The fresh case against them was registered at the federal capital’s Kohsar police station on March 22, 2025, on a complaint by City Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Chandio. They were accused of chanting anti-government slogans and blocking roads.

The re-arrest has sparked widespread criticism from journalists and lawyers, who view it as a 'mockery of justice' and a violation of the rule of law.

Lawyer Rida Hosain stated, 'Imaan and Hadi’s continued incarceration sends a broader, disgraceful message. No court order makes a difference if the state wants you in jail.'

Digital rights advocate Usama Khilji added, 'Welcome to Pakistan where law of the jungle is supreme.'

Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, condemned the arrests, saying, 'This really is the limit. It’s reprehensible.'

Former senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan said, 'There is no shaming the shameless. Pakistan has been turned into a slaughterhouse for dissenting voices.'

The couple’s arrest raises serious questions about the implementation of Supreme Court orders and the rule of law in Pakistan. Journalist Matiullah Jan questioned why the previous case was not investigated alongside the social media posts case, alleging that this showed the move was 'an act of mala fide on the part of the government.'

Lawyer Reema Omer described the couple’s arrest as 'heartbreaking and terrifying.' She added, 'A tyrannical state relishing its cruelty.'

Imaan and Hadi’s continued incarceration sends a broader, disgraceful message. No court order makes a difference if the state wants you in jail.
Rida Hosain, Lawyer