More than 400 lawyers in Islamabad submitted a joint resolution on Wednesday expressing support for human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha, who are currently serving prison sentences. Members of the Islamabad Bar Council, Islamabad High Court Bar Association, and Islamabad District Bar Association backed the move, according to local media reports.
Prominent legal figures, including former High Court Bar president Riyasat Azad and other senior lawyers, endorsed the resolution. They urged authorities to expedite hearings on petitions filed by the couple seeking suspension of their sentences. Furthermore, the lawyers emphasized the importance of ensuring due process and timely judicial review in the case.
In addition, the resolution outlined several key demands. Lawyers called for permission to send a delegation, including female representatives, to visit the prison and assess the conditions in which the couple is being held. They also requested that authorities grant the couple B-Class facilities in jail, citing their educational background. Moreover, the legal community insisted that both individuals should be presented in court instead of facing proceedings within prison premises, arguing that jail trials contradict fundamental principles of justice.
Meanwhile, the resolution criticized the cases against Mazari and Chattha, alleging that authorities registered them with mala fide intent. Lawyers argued that both individuals have consistently advocated for marginalized communities and that raising human rights concerns should not be treated as a criminal act.
Overall, the legal fraternity stated that the initiative aims to demonstrate solidarity and assure the couple that they are not alone during this period.
