human rights defender

Imaan Mazari-Hazir

Actions and Campaigns

© wexfo

HRD's year of birth

1993

HRD's Gender

Woman

Type of HRD

  • Lawyer
  • Social and community leader

HRD's thematic area of engagement

  • Civil and political rights
  • Fight against impunity

HRD's geographical origin

Urban

HRD's bio and work

Imaan Mazari-Hazir is a Pakistani human rights lawyer and human rights defender known for her work on civil and political rights, rule of law, and accountability. She has represented victims of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, custodial abuse, and other alleged human rights violations. Her legal advocacy focuses on challenging unlawful state practices and seeking justice for individuals whose fundamental rights have been violated. Through her legal practice, Imaan has worked on cases involving missing persons, protection of journalists, activists, and marginalized communities. As a human rights defender, she has faced legal challenges and alleged judicial harassment linked to her advocacy and legal work. International human rights organisations and legal networks have raised concerns regarding actions taken against her, emphasizing the importance of protecting lawyers and defenders who work on human rights issues.

Current Status

In prison (sentenced)

Detained since

Jan 23, 2026

Charge(s)

  • Spreading fake news
  • Terrorism

Sentence

On 29th October 2026, an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan sentenced prominent human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, to 10 years in prison on terrorism-related charges. Previously, on 24 January 2026, Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha were convicted under PECA provisions related to cyber-terrorism and false information over their posts on X. They were each sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment and fined PKR 36 million.

Geolocation of detention

Country or area of detention

Region of detention

  • Asia: Southern Asia

Location of detention - City/Town

Islamabad

Location of detention - Facility

Adiala Jail (Rawalpindi)

Allegations / reports of ill-treatment

Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha were arrested using excessive force while they were on their way to court. It was further reported that they were not immediately informed of the reasons for their arrest and were allegedly taken to an undisclosed location before being presented before the court.

Recent case update / evolution

On 17 September 2026, the Supreme Court granted bail to Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir against surety bonds of Rs200,000 and suspended her sentence pending the decision of the Islamabad High Court. However, only hours after the Supreme Court ordered her release, Islamabad Police re-arrested her in connection with a separate case and produced her before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), which rejected the police’s request for physical remand and sent her to jail on judicial remand. On 29th October 2026, She was convicted for the second time in less than a year. This time, she was sentenced to 10 years in a security breach case following a jail trial.