Islamabad Lawyers Announce Court Boycott Over Rearrest of Imaan Mazari

ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) has announced a complete boycott of court proceedings across the federal capital to protest the contentious rearrest of prominent human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her spouse, Hadi Ali Chattha. The legal fraternity’s decisive move comes hot on the heels of the Supreme Court suspending the couple’s 17-year prison sentences and ordering their release on bail in a case linked to social media posts under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).

Hours after securing relief from the apex court late Thursday, the couple was swiftly taken into custody again in connection with a second FIR, drawing vehement condemnation from civil society organizations, journalist bodies, and legal associations. Senior legal practitioners termed the rearrest a mockery of justice and a blatant disregard for judicial orders, raising serious questions regarding the misuse of cybercrime legislation against human rights defenders and legal professionals in the country.

This escalating confrontation between the legal community and state authorities underscores growing concerns regarding freedom of expression, judicial independence, and the shrinking space for dissent in Pakistan. Observers note that such administrative overreaches not only strain relations between the bar and the bench but also severely dent the nation’s human rights credentials on the international stage, drawing scrutiny from global legal bodies.

As the capital’s courts brace for a standstill on Saturday due to the lawyers’ strike, civil rights groups are mulling further mobilization strategies. Meanwhile, legal teams representing Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha are preparing urgent petitions to challenge the legality of the subsequent arrest, setting the stage for another high-stakes legal showdown in the higher judiciary early next week.