Pakistan court orders arrest of lawyers Imaan Mazari, Hadi Chattha in controversial tweets case

A Pakistani court ordered the arrest of lawyer Imaan Mazari-Hazir and activist Hadi Ali Chattha in connection with a case involving controversial tweets on Thursday, in a move seen as a strong rebuke to law enforcement authorities.

During proceedings, Judge Afzal Majoka instructed the Islamabad Police to arrest the two within 24 hours, emphasizing that it was irrelevant whether they were inside Pakistan or abroad.

“You have 24 hours. Arrest them, whether they are in Pakistan, India, or Afghanistan. I do not care whether they are at sea or in the air,” the judge said.“Wherever they are, Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha must be arrested within 24 hours. Otherwise, contempt of court proceedings will be initiated.”

The court’s remarks came amid frustration over delays in executing previous arrest warrants. Judge Majoka warned that failure to comply with the order could result in contempt proceedings against the responsible officials.

The case concerns allegedly objectionable content shared on social media, which remains under judicial scrutiny. Authorities are expected to act as the court’s deadline approaches, and further developments are anticipated.

What's the case?

The case was brought by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which says the couple posted tweets deemed supportive of banned organizations.

Authorities say some of those posts, made between 2021 and 2025, accused the armed forces of failing to curb militancy, fostering terrorism, and committing enforced disappearances in Pakistan’s Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

Pakistan has long faced security challenges in those regions, and authorities maintain strict controls on speech they consider harmful to national security.

Mazari, the daughter of former human rights minister Shireen Mazari, is known for her outspoken criticism of Pakistan’s military and advocacy for victims of enforced disappearances.

The accusations against her and Chatha specifically reference militant groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

Rights groups have long warned that Pakistan’s cybercrime laws are being used to stifle dissent, with critics accusing authorities of conflating free expression with anti-state activity.