Intl legal bodies slam judicial harassment of Pakistani human rights lawyers
Islamabad, Nov 29 ( LatestNewsX ) – Several prominent international legal bodies have voiced acute alarm over the continuous judicial intimidation of Pakistani human‑rights advocates Imaan Zainab Mazari‑Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, urging Pakistani authorities to lift all charges and discontinue criminal proceedings immediately.
In a united statement, Lawyers for Lawyers, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, the Law Society of England and Wales, the International Commission of Jurists, the International Observatory of Lawyers at Risk, and the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe described the ongoing trial as part of a wider, disturbing pattern of judicial harassment. The statement warned that this intimidation is designed to drain the lawyers’ time and resources, smear their reputation, and block their capacity to defend victims of state violence.
The document highlighted Mazari as a leading human‑rights lawyer who has taken on cases involving enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and custodial abuse, consistently challenging the legality of actions taken by military, police and intelligence officials. Her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, a criminal law specialist, has defended those wrongfully accused of blasphemy and has offered pro bono support through the Asma Jahangir Legal Aid Cell and Justice Project Pakistan in matters of sexual violence, disappearances, and death‑row appeals.
Both lawyers have been subjected to targeted retaliation, including judicial harassment, for their human‑rights work and vocal advocacy for accountability and the rule of law. “The recent indictment and criminal proceedings against the couple, marred by serious irregularities and the denial of due process guarantees, are intended to obstruct their legitimate legal work and retaliate against them for exercising their right to freedom of expression,” the group said, citing credible information.
The latest criminal case against Mazari and Chattha stems from tweets posted between 2021 and 2025 that criticized the Pakistani military’s role in human‑rights abuses. During the most recent hearing on November 24, the government‑appointed counsel declared an inability to effectively represent Mazari, alleging insufficient time to prepare and a denial of access to the case file. The counsel also rejected a list of pre‑drafted cross‑examination questions provided by the prosecutor’s office, calling it a blatant attempt to manipulate the proceedings. These actions signal systemic breaches of fair‑trial rights, including the right to choose one’s own counsel, and cast serious doubts on the integrity of the case.
Signatories urged Pakistani officials to guarantee that all lawyers can perform their duties without fear of reprisal or unwarranted restrictions, in line with international standards.
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