Popular human rights lawyer, Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, was re-arrested outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Monday, shortly after being granted bail in a sedition case by an Islamabad anti-terrorism court. The Islamabad police confirmed her arrest on X (formerly Twitter) and revealed that Imaan was taken into custody in connection with a terrorism case registered at the Bara Kahu police station.
Video footage of the arrest shows Islamabad police officials escorting Imaan away in a police van from outside the jail.
Imaan Mazari’s re-arrest comes after an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad granted her and former lawmaker Ali Wazir post-arrest bail in the sedition case. Wazir was arrested on August 19, while Imaan was detained from her home during the early hours of August 20. Two first information reports (FIR) were registered against them at Islamabad’s Tarnol police station and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station. These arrests were made two days after a public meeting organized by the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), in which both Imaan and Wazir delivered speeches critical of the military establishment regarding enforced disappearances.
Earlier on August 22, an Islamabad court had granted Imaan post-arrest bail in a rioting and dacoity case. However, she continued to be in police custody for the sedition case. Subsequently, on August 24, the Islamabad ATC rejected the prosecution’s request to extend Imaan and Wazir’s physical remand in the sedition case, sending them to Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on judicial remand. During the ATC hearing, the court read out a script of Imaan’s speech from the PTM rally.
Although both Imaan and Wazir were granted post-arrest bail against surety bonds of Rs. 30,000 each, they were not released from jail at that time. Imaan’s lawyer, Zainab Janjua, stated that her client should be released later. Wazir also received bail but will face another Islamabad court for a separate case related to the rally.
Two FIRs were registered against Imaan and Wazir on August 19 at Tarnol police station and CTD police station. The first FIR includes charges such as rioting armed with deadly weapons, obstruction of public servants, unlawful assembly, and sedition. The second FIR includes incitement to riot, promotion of enmity between groups, criminal intimidation, and acts of terrorism. The inclusion of the sedition charge in the second FIR remains confusing as it had been invalidated by the Lahore High Court in March.
Imaan and Wazir spoke against state institutions and their heads in their speeches during the PTM rally, attempting to incite rebellion and weaken the army. They also warned of dire consequences for the judiciary and promoted civil strife. The protest, attended by up to 3,000 people, focused on condemning harassment against Pakhtuns and advocating for the return of missing persons.
Imaan’s re-arrest and the charges against her raise concerns about the situation of freedom of speech and human rights in Pakistan. The case has gained significant attention both locally and internationally, with supporters calling for the release of Imaan Mazari and the protection of fundamental rights.