Islamabad, Jan 23 (NationPress) The Human Rights Council (HRC) of Pakistan issued a strong condemnation on Friday regarding the arrest of human rights attorneys Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chatta, labeling the act as a breach of fundamental rights.

The statement followed the reported arrests of activist and lawyer Imaan along with her husband, Hadi, in Islamabad on Friday while they were en route to the district courts.

Both individuals faced indictment by an Islamabad court in October of the previous year concerning alleged contentious social media posts.

“This action represents a direct assault on constitutional rights, civil liberties, and the professional autonomy of lawyers. Such actions are intolerable in a democratic society and reflect a perilous trend of undermining rather than safeguarding fundamental rights,” the HRC of Pakistan remarked.

The rights organization called for the immediate and unconditional release of both lawyers, demanding the halt of all illegal and retaliatory actions against them.

“Upholding the rule of law, the Constitution of Pakistan, and international human rights standards is a fundamental duty of the government that must not be compromised for political or administrative convenience,” it emphasized.

In the wake of the arrests, journalists, lawmakers, and human rights organizations vehemently rebuked the actions and sought justice for the two lawyers.

The leader of the opposition in the Pakistani Senate, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, expressed his concerns on social media, stating that the arrest of activist Imaan and Hadi while heading to court “underscores a troubling trend of state overreach and procedural anomalies that undermine the principles of fair trial and due process as enshrined in Pakistani law and international agreements.”

“Such state actions not only reveal institutional weaknesses but also jeopardize judicial integrity, eroding public trust in the rule of law. I demand adherence to the rule of law, fair trial, and justice for all. Imaan and Hadi should be promptly granted bail and allowed to defend themselves in their ongoing proceedings. The silencing of dissent and advocates for human rights must cease,” he asserted.

Former senator Afrasiab Khattak characterized the arrest of the human rights lawyers as “a blatant assault by the oppressors on human rights and the rule of law, as both young lawyers represented victims in court.”

“However, such oppressive tactics will not shield the usurpers from the people's ire, who will undoubtedly hold them accountable,” he added.

Another human rights organization, Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ), condemned the arrest of the two lawyers, stating, “These arrests reveal state strategies that rely on intimidation rather than law. Silencing lawyers and activists for expressing the truth is a direct attack on due process and fundamental freedoms.”