Imaan Mazari-Hazir's health deteriorates in Adiala Jail, rights body raises alarm
Synopsis
A jailed Pakistani human rights lawyer is reportedly battling a chest infection at Adiala Jail, with her family warning that a necessary chest X-ray has not been conducted and that infectious inmates are not isolated. The Human Rights Council of Pakistan is calling it a fundamental rights violation — and the Islamabad High Court is set to hear her sentence suspension plea on 8 September 2026.
Key Takeaways
HRC-Pakistan on 25 August flagged 'alarming' medical conditions at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi for jailed lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir .
Imaan is reportedly battling a chest infection; a blood test showed a high white blood cell count, but a chest X-ray had not been conducted as of the family's statement.
She and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha were sentenced to a combined 17 years in prison and fined 36 million Pakistani rupees each over a case linked to social media posts.
Women prisoners with infectious diseases are reportedly not isolated and mix with other inmates, including children, at Adiala Jail .
Their sentence suspension applications are scheduled before the Islamabad High Court on 8 September 2026 .
HRC-Pakistan demanded an immediate chest X-ray, hospital transfer if needed, and specialist care access for all women prisoners.
The Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRC-Pakistan) on Tuesday, 25 August raised grave concern over the worsening health of jailed human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, currently held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, describing the prison's medical facilities as 'alarming'. The statement came after Imaan's family warned that her health had been deteriorating for three weeks, and questioned the adequacy of care available inside the facility.
What the Family Has Reported
According to the family, Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir has been battling a chest infection for the past week. A blood test reportedly revealed a high white blood cell count, indicating an active infection. Despite the clinical need for a chest X-ray — necessary to rule out serious conditions including tuberculosis — jail authorities had not conducted the test as of the family's statement.
The family's alarm was compounded by conditions in the women's section of Adiala Jail, where inmates diagnosed with infectious diseases are reportedly not isolated and continue to mix with other prisoners, including children.
Background: The Case Against Imaan and Her Husband
Both Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, were sentenced earlier this year by a sessions court in Islamabad to a combined 17 years in prison. Each was also fined 36 million Pakistani rupees. The charges stem from a case linked to social media posts. Their applications seeking suspension of sentences are scheduled to be heard by the Islamabad High Court on 8 September 2026.
What HRC-Pakistan Demanded
The rights body called on Pakistani authorities to provide immediate and quality medical treatment to Imaan and all women prisoners without distinction. In its statement, the HRC-Pakistan said: 'The protection of the life, health, and dignity of every person in custody is the direct responsibility of the state and the jail administration. Regardless of the political, legal, or any other nature of cases, no prisoner can be deprived of essential medical facilities.'
Specifically, the council demanded an immediate chest X-ray and comprehensive medical assessment for Imaan, her transfer to a hospital if warranted, access to specialist care and diagnostic facilities for all women prisoners, and dignified medical isolation arrangements for those with infectious diseases.
Broader Concerns Over Prison Healthcare
The HRC-Pakistan stressed that imprisonment does not extinguish a person's right to health, adding: 'Neglect of any prisoner's health is unacceptable — treatment is not a facility; it is a fundamental right.' The rights body urged the government, jail administration, and relevant authorities to treat the matter with urgency. This comes amid longstanding criticism of detention conditions in Pakistan's prisons, where overcrowding and inadequate medical infrastructure have repeatedly drawn scrutiny from domestic and international rights organisations.
Point of View
While simultaneously keeping infectious inmates un-isolated in the women's ward, points to systemic neglect rather than administrative oversight. What makes this particularly consequential is the profile of the accused: a human rights lawyer convicted on charges tied to social media posts, whose case has already drawn scrutiny over due process. If the state cannot demonstrate basic duty of care before the Islamabad High Court hearing on 8 September, the optics — domestically and internationally — will be difficult to contain.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir?
Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir is a Pakistani human rights lawyer currently held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. She and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, were sentenced to a combined 17 years in prison and fined 36 million Pakistani rupees each on charges linked to social media posts by a sessions court in Islamabad earlier this year.
What is the current health concern regarding Imaan Mazari-Hazir?
According to her family, Imaan has been suffering from a chest infection for about a week, with a blood test reportedly showing a high white blood cell count. Despite the clinical need, jail authorities had not conducted a chest X-ray as of the family's statement, raising concern about ruling out serious illnesses including tuberculosis.
What has the Human Rights Council of Pakistan demanded?
HRC-Pakistan has demanded an immediate chest X-ray and comprehensive medical assessment for Imaan, her transfer to a hospital if her condition warrants it, and access to specialist care, dental services, essential medicines, and diagnostic facilities for all women prisoners at Adiala Jail. It also called for proper medical isolation of inmates with infectious diseases.
When will Imaan Mazari-Hazir's case be heard in court?
Applications filed by Imaan and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha seeking suspension of their sentences are scheduled to be heard by the Islamabad High Court on 8 September 2026.
What conditions have been reported in the women's section of Adiala Jail?
According to HRC-Pakistan's statement, women inmates diagnosed with infectious diseases are not isolated and continue to mix with other prisoners and children. The rights body described medical facilities and doctor availability in the women's section as falling well short of acceptable standards.
