The president of the IHC alleges use of force during his arrest and broke the windows of our vehicle
Imaan Mazari, human rights lawyer and social activist, and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha. Photo file
Islamabad police on Friday arrested lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, near the underpass outside Serena Hotel in Islamabad.
Former minister Shireen Mazari wrote on X that Imaan and Hadi “were arrested and placed in separate cars and taken to unknown locations.”
“Fascism at its peak. The emasculated men in power must be so happy with this success!” Mazari added.
Iman @ImaanZHazir and Hadi @AdvHadiali were arrested and placed in separate cars and taken to unknown locations – no trees shown and the bar unfortunately couldn’t do anything. Fascism at its peak. The emasculated men in power must be so happy with this success!
– Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) January 23, 2026
Journalists at the scene said police officers forcibly seized the cell phones of journalists covering the arrest.
Meanwhile, Wajid Gilani, president of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, accused the police of using excessive force during the operation.
“They attacked us, broke the windows of our vehicle, then arrested Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chatha,” Gilani said, adding that even the bar secretary was subjected to violence.
Read: IHC reinstates bail and restores the right of defense of Imaan Mazari, her husband
The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday granted two-day protective bail to human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, in a newly resurfaced case dating back to July 2025, ruling out their arrest during that period.
Justice Azam Khan of the IHC directed the couple to approach the competent magistrate court within two days and ordered them to submit a bond of Rs 100,000 each.
The relief came after arrest warrants were issued in connection with the fresh FIR, forcing the couple to spend two nights at the office of the President of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, amid heavy police presence outside the premises.
