By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Police charged prominent human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari-Hazir, her husband, and several lawyers linked to the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party with terrorism offences on Friday after a violent confrontation with the president of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA).
The episode, sparked by a protest over a judge’s suspension, has deepened tensions within Pakistan’s legal community and raised fresh concerns about the use of anti-terrorism laws to suppress dissent. The clash occurred at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), where lawyers rallied to protest the suspension of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri from judicial duties, a decision critics say threatens judicial independence.
Demonstrators, including Islamabad Bar Council member Aleem Abbasi, former IHCBA president Riasat Ali, and Mazari-Hazir, waved placards and chanted slogans in support of the judiciary. Tensions escalated when PTI-affiliated lawyers, including Intizar Hussain Panjotha, Naeem Panjotha, and Fatehullah Barki, confronted IHCBA President Wajid Ali Gilani.
Witnesses reported that the group pushed Gilani, triggering a scuffle that IHCBA Secretary Manzoor Ahmed Jaja and others intervened to stop. Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Mazari-Hazir, her husband Hadi Ali Chattha, Zainab Janjua, Naeem Panjhuta, Fatehullah Barki, and others, citing sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The IHCBA leadership accused the group of assaulting Gilani, harassing him, and chanting slogans against state institutions.
In a press conference, Gilani, joined by Jaja and Vice Chairman Naseer Ahmed Kayani, condemned the incident and vowed to seek terrorism charges and the revocation of the accused lawyers’ licenses through the bar council.
Gilani alleged that Mazari-Hazir, Janjua, and others physically assaulted him, dragged him, and branded him a traitor. He claimed they were armed and pressured him to support demands for cases against PTI founder Imran Khan, which he rejected.
“We have no personal or political agenda,” Gilani said. “We are neither aligned with any party nor any judge. Our role is to serve the lawyers, and my press conference should not be politicized.” Jaja said the protest violated protocol by proceeding without formal bar approval and pledged to pursue terrorism charges and license cancellations. “We are not touts of any judge, [and] those acting as such will be exposed,” he said.
Kayani cautioned against exploiting Jahangiri’s suspension for personal motives, announcing that the accused lawyers would be barred from IHC premises and face license suspension pending formal complaints. “We are committed to upholding the constitution and the rule of law,” he said. “We will not yield to pressure or intimidation.”
Mazari-Hazir, a vocal critic of Pakistan’s military and government with a history of arrests under similar laws, could not be reached for comment.
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