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Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir is a Pakistani human rights lawyer.
Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir | |
|---|---|
| Education | University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Human rights lawyer |
| Spouse | Abdul Hadi |
| Parent(s) | Shireen Mazari and Tabish Hazir |
Biography edit
Mazari was born to Shireen Mazari and Tabish Hazir. She is of Baloch ethnicity.[1]
She graduated from the University of Edinburgh,[2] where she initiated her legal career while pursuing her studies.[1]
During the 2017 Faizabad sit-in organized by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, Imaan expressed criticism towards the military's involvement in the agreement between the government and protestors. This led to a statement from her mother, Shireen Mazari, who distanced herself from Imaan's remarks. Following this, a targeted campaign against Imaan ensued on social media and old photographs of her attending a party were circulated with the intention of shaming her. In response, Imaan served legal notice to Brigadier Tariq Izaz for allegedly defaming her.[3][4]
In 2020, amidst the imposition of criminal defamation charges against journalists who expressed criticism of the government, a Journalists Defense Committee was formed, comprising lawyers from the Pakistan Bar Council, this committee aimed to provide pro bono legal assistance to journalists encountering harassment due to their professional work. Imaan played an active role as a member of this committee, and represented numerous journalists such as Asad Ali Toor, Mudassar Naaru, and Absar Alam.[5]
In 2021, Shireen Mazari received a threatening message, urging her to take action concerning her daughter or face consequences. Shortly after this threat, Imaan's parked car at Rawalpindi Katchery was hit by an unidentified vehicle.[5]
On 2 March 2022, the Islamabad Police filed a sedition case against Imaan and numerous students involved in a protest against racial profiling and surveillance of Baloch students in universities located in Islamabad.[6] Subsequently, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued an order preventing the arrest of Mazari. Chief Justice of IHC Athar Minallah stated during a hearing that he would not tolerate harassment resulting from criticism.[7] On 21 March, the Islamabad police retracted the sedition case filed against Mazari and approximately 200 Baloch students.[8]
On 21 May, 2022, her mother, Shireen Mazari, was arrested by police in connection with a land ownership and transfer case.[9] The same day, a video surfaced on social media featuring Mazari making statements about then Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Qamar Javed Bajwa. Subsequently, on 26 May, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against Mazari based on a complaint lodged by Lt Colonel Syed Humayun Iftikhar, representing the Judge Advocate General Branch of the General Headquarters (GHQ). The FIR alleged that Mazari had made "derogatory and hateful" remarks against the Pakistan Army. Following this, the IHC granted pre-arrest bail to Mazari.[10] The case was subsequently dismissed by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah after Mazari expressed remorse for her statements.[11]
On 20 August 2023, she was arrested after a rally organized by the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) rights group in Islamabad on 18 August. Videos circulated on social media depicted her delivering a speech where she vehemently criticized the military for alleged abductions.[12][13] However, soon after her release on bail on 28 August, she was re-arrested from outside Adiala Jail in connection with a new case involving terrorism charges.[13][14] On 2 September, an Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) approved post-arrest bail for Mazari in the case.[15]
According to the Human Rights Watch “in arresting Imaan Mazari and others, Pakistani authorities are using vague, over broad anti-terrorism laws to stifle dissent.”[16]
In December 2023, she married to Abdul Hadi, a human rights lawyer.[17]
According to Asian Human Rights Commission, she is "a distinguished human rights lawyer, widely respected for her advocacy on behalf of persecuted religious and ethnic communities, especially on offences perpetrated by the Pakistani military and security forces, and one of the few lawyers representing missing persons in Islamabad."[18]
She is also known for her involvement in legal cases pertaining to the abduction and racial profiling of Baloch students in Islamabad.[5]
References edit
- ^ a b "Imaan Mazari Age, Husband, Family, Twitter". Daily Pakistan Global. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ "Pakistani rights activist Imaan Zainab arrested day after speech criticising Army as 'terrorists'". The Indian Express. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ "State of Human Rights in 2017" (PDF). hrcp-web.org. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Shireen Mazari's daughter, Imaan, roasts Pak army for propping terrorists". The Times of India. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Unflinching Ally Of The Persecuted: How Imaan Mazari Is Keeping Asma Jahangir's Legacy Alive". The Friday Times. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Imaan Mazari, Mohsin Dawar Booked On Sedition Charges For Attending Baloch Students' Protest". The Friday Times. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Court Orders Police Not To Arrest Imaan Mazari In Sedition Case". The Friday Times. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Police Withdraws Case Registered Against Imaan Mazari, Baloch Students For Protesting Enforced Disappearances". The Friday Times. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "IHC orders release of PTI leader Shireen Mazari, instructs govt to conduct judicial inquiry". DAWN.COM. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ "IHC grants lawyer Imaan Mazari-Hazir pre-arrest bail in army 'defamation' case". DAWN.COM. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Naseer, Tahir (20 June 2022). "IHC dismisses army's case against Imaan Mazari-Hazir after she regrets remarks". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ "Ali Wazir, Imaan Mazari arrested on terrorism, sedition charges". The Express Tribune. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Imaan Mazari-Hazir: Lawyer who called Pakistan army 'terrorists' re-arrested". BBC. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Azeem, Munawer (29 August 2023). "Imaan arrested again after release". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Burney, Umer (2 September 2023). "Islamabad ATC grants Imaan Mazari post-arrest bail in recent terror case". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ Khilji, Usama (27 August 2023). "The price of courage". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Imaan Mazari ties the knot". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ "PAKISTAN: NEW GOVERNMENT CONTINUES BLOCKING THE INTERNET AND PERSECUTING JOURNALISTS AND ACTIVISTS". Asian Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 17 April 2024.