By 
The judicial harassment of Pakistani human rights defenders Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha has intensified following the cancellation of their bail and continued arrest orders in a case linked to alleged “anti-state” social media posts.
Photo source: Markus Winkler, via Unsplash, August 26th, 2020.
23-01-2026 | Roberta Moisuc | Asia Team Researcher, Global Human Rights Defence.
The judicial harassment of Pakistani lawyers and human rights defenders Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha continues, with the cancellation of their bail and issued order for arrest on January 16th, 2026, in a case linked to alleged “anti-state” tweets.
The case originates from a complaint filed on August 12th, 2025, by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), alleging that Mazari’s posts “aligned with hostile terrorist groups” and implicated Chattha for reposting. Charges were filed under sections relating to “cyber terrorism”, “hate speech” and “false and fake information”. In September 2025, the Islamabad court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for both lawyers, with formal charges filed later in October 2025 and the accused being detained.
In December 2025, Mazari and Chattha filed a petition to the Islamabad High Court to have their case transferred to another judge because of bias and other irregularities. The previous trial had issues with consistent legal representation, objections not being respected by the court and other difficulties. The defendants claim that evidence mishandling also took place.
On January 16th, 2026, the judge ordered their arrest. On January 17th, Mazari and Chattha challenged their arrest orders, arguing their right of defence was violated, and their arrest warrants were issued illegally and without virtual protection. On January 19th, they were granted a one-day protection bail, but they were ordered to appear in court.
The case raises grave concerns about the right of freedom of expression. The allegations criminalise free speech alongside a trial that has been marked by serious irregularities and violations.
