Human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari has refused to be silenced despite arrest, cyberbullying, and a recent 10-year prison sentence. She and her husband, fellow lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, were sentenced over alleged “anti-state” social media posts.
The 32-year-old lawyer gained prominence defending journalists, ethnic minorities, and clients accused of blasphemy. Her outspoken stance has led to multiple legal charges, including “cyber terrorism” and “hate speech.” On Saturday, an Islamabad court sentenced the couple, claiming they had “disseminated highly offensive content” against the state.
Despite the verdict, Imaan Mazari remains defiant. “Truth seems overwhelmingly difficult in this country, but we knew that when we got into this work. We will not back down,” she told AFP in court. Her courage has drawn comparisons to the late human rights lawyer Asma Jahangir, a recognition Mazari described as a “huge honour and a privilege.”
Mazari is the daughter of former human rights minister Shireen Mazari and the late top paediatrician. Her family expressed pride in her work defending the dispossessed and marginalized, despite the risks it brings. “When so many people are suffering, we expect she will also be made to suffer for speaking out against excesses to human rights,” her mother said.
As a pro bono lawyer, Imaan Mazari has represented victims of enforced disappearances, including ethnic Baloch activists like Mahrang Baloch. She has also defended Afghans facing government crackdowns and those accused of blasphemy, a highly sensitive charge in Pakistan. Her work has challenged the state and made her a constant target of harassment.
Mazari has faced online abuse, doctored photos, and sexist attacks, yet she continues her legal activism. She received the 2025 Young Inspiration Award from the World Expression Forum for her “extraordinary courage, integrity, and impact in the struggle for the rule of law and justice.” The UN special rapporteur also criticized the legal cases against her as a potential misuse of the legal system.
In other news read more abotu: FIA Arrests Imaan Mazari and Husband in Islamabad Following Bail Cancellation
Despite ongoing pressure, Imaan Mazari vowed to continue her work alongside her husband. “We’re not the first people who will be unlawfully incarcerated in this country,” she said. Her determination highlights her commitment to justice and human rights in Pakistan, making her one of the country’s most resilient legal voices.
