Imaan Mazari, husband spend night at IHC bar office as police wait outside

New FIR and arrest warrants issued after court restores bail in tweet case

ISLAMABAD:

Human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, spent Tuesday night at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Bar president’s office after arrest warrants were issued against them in connection with a newly surfaced FIR.

The couple sought refuge at the office of Islamabad High Court Bar President Wajid Gilani after a fresh FIR emerged soon after the IHC restored their bail in an ongoing case linked to controversial posts on social media. Arrest warrants were issued in the newly surfaced case, which dates back to July 2025.

Mazari and Chattha immediately filed pre-arrest bail applications in the IHC, requesting an urgent hearing. However, Secretary to the Chief Justice Maqsood Ahmed informed them that Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar had already left and the matter could not be taken up the same day.

We knew today we were walking into a trap by entering the High Court but unlike the man who has given himself lifetime immunity, we do not run away from the courts, even though we know these are fake cases. All we have demanded is that our right to fair trial be safeguarded. Now…

— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) January 20, 2026

Fearing arrest, the two lawyers remained in the bar president’s office overnight. Gilani assured them protection, telling the couple, “Sit in my office. No one will arrest you from here.”

یہ ہاتھ جو تھاما ہے، تو یہ رات بھی گزرے گی
ہر ظلم کی اک حد ہے، ہر شب کی سحر ہوگی pic.twitter.com/v07eGQW5B6

— Nadir Baloch (@BalochNadir5) January 20, 2026

Islamabad police remained stationed outside the court offices throughout the night, seeking to carry out the arrests of Mazari and her husband.

We will not be given this right despite the court order. The police is literally following us into the bathroom in the High Court and the instruction is to arrest us today no matter what. https://t.co/YRmGIjhDDj

— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) January 20, 2026

In a post on X, Mazari said: “The police is literally following us into the bathroom in the High Court and the instruction is to arrest us today no matter what.”

Read: IHC restores bail, reinstates right of defence of Imaan Mazari, husband

Several people visited the couple during the night. Newly appointed Senate opposition leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas came to the bar office to express solidarity with Mazari and Chattha.

پاکستان اس وقت ایک شدید اور ہمہ گیر بحران سے گزر رہا ہے۔ بدقسمتی سے ملک اس سمت میں بڑھتا دکھائی دے رہا ہے جہاں عوام کے بنیادی حقوق، آئینی ضمانتیں اور انسانی وقار مسلسل پامال کیے جا رہے ہیں۔ اصل المیہ یہ ہے کہ جن کے ہاتھ میں اختیار اور طاقت ہے، وہی ریاست کی سافٹ پاور کو بے دردی سے… pic.twitter.com/mTaI1XPh3w

— Senator Allama Raja Nasir (@AllamaRajaNasir) January 20, 2026

Speaking to reporters alongside the two lawyers, Abbas said citizens often turn to courts for relief but instead face hardship. He also referred to long-standing grievances in Balochistan. Describing Mazari and Chattha as young lawyers representing freedom, he said such individuals should be valued. “Living is a fundamental right of every human being,” he said. “The killing of one innocent person is the killing of all humanity.”

🚨🚨#BREAKING: Opposition leader in senate @AllamaRajaNasir in emergency press conference along prominent human rights activist couple @ImaanZHazir & @AdvHadiali, says “for God sake don’t compromise soft image of #Pakistan.” He further said “Imaan and Hadi are aiding marginalised… pic.twitter.com/UaUVEGF0SB

— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) January 20, 2026

Senior advocate and JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza, who is representing the couple in their bail case, was also present at the IHC bar room as the developments drew wide attention on social media.

Read more: IHC grants protective bail to Imaan Mazari, husband in controversial tweets case

Murtaza said: “It’s complete lawlessness and ending the repute of bar associations that we trapped our lawyers, Imaan and Hadi, by bringing them to court, and the police came up with a false FIR arrest, and it’s ridiculing and disrespecting the bar association.”

🚨🚨#BREAKING: JUIF Senator and former President #SupremeCourt bar association @kamranmurtaza56, #Islamabad high court bar association Wajid Gillani, #Islamabad bar association President Naeem Gujjar, former Islamabad bar association present Naseer Kayani sitting with prominent… pic.twitter.com/LnrsoYJtuy

— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) January 20, 2026

ایمان مزاری، ہادی علی چھٹہ کیخلاف جب پیکا کے ڈریکونین قانون کے تحت جعلی ٹویٹ کیس سے کچھ نہیں بنا تو اب 6 ماہ قبل کی ایک فراڈ ایف آئی آر سامنے لائی گئی ہے۔اپنے پیاروں کی بازیابی کیلئے اور جبری گمشدگی کیخلاف جس بلوچ دھرنے کی بنیاد پر ایف آئی آر درج کی گئی یے میں خود اس دھرنے میں… pic.twitter.com/V5HmMbHdw8

— Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan | سینیٹر مشتاق احمد خان (@SenatorMushtaq) January 20, 2026

On Wednesday morning, a district court presided over by Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka heard the tweet case against Mazari and Chattha. A junior counsel appeared on their behalf and informed the court that a bail application was pending before the high court, adding that the couple would appear after the IHC proceedings.

The district court adjourned the hearing until 1:30 pm.

According to sources, the legal branch at the Islamabad District and Sessions Courts was sealed following the emergence of the previously undisclosed FIR against the couple. The move was ordered by senior police officers amid allegations that details of the FIR had been leaked. The FIR was registered in July, but neither Mazari nor Chattha had obtained bail in the case at that time.

Mazari and Chattha are already facing trial in the Islamabad District and Sessions Court over alleged controversial posts and reposts on X, formerly Twitter. Authorities have described the content as “anti-state.”

The case was registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, alleging the posts were meant to incite divisions and portray state institutions negatively.

Earlier, the trial court issued non-bailable arrest warrants after the couple failed to appear, prompting legal challenges by the defence. Mazari and Chattha later approached the IHC, alleging procedural irregularities, including the recording of evidence in their absence and without proper legal representation.

After the high court declined to grant an immediate stay, the couple moved the Supreme Court, which ordered a temporary halt to the trial until the IHC completes its hearing.

Legal bodies, including the Islamabad Bar Association, have criticised aspects of the proceedings, saying the defendants’ right to a fair defence has been undermined.

‘Victory for the rule of law’

Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association president, Wajid Ali Gilani, addressed a press conference on Wednesday alongside lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha.

Gilani told reporters the development marked a “victory for the rule of law.”

He said a new FIR had surfaced against Mazari and Chatha and that, despite delays, a bail application was filed a day earlier, although court staff had already left at the time.

Gilani said the bail plea had now been fixed for hearing later on Wednesday.

He said Mazari and Chatha would not be handed over to the police under any circumstances.

Gilani alleged that police had cordoned off the Islamabad High Court to arrest the two lawyers, with officers up to the rank of senior superintendent present at the scene.

He said lawyers step forward when bar leadership is required and added that the administration and police had failed in their actions due to the unity shown by the legal community.