Pakistani lawyer Imaan Mazari’s family raises concern over medical treatment in Adiala Jail

The family of human rights activist and advocate Imaan Mazari issued a statement expressing grave concern over her health, alleging that jail authorities at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail have failed to provide proper medical care for ongoing health issues over the past three weeks.

Why is Imaan Mazari's family raising concerns about her health in prison?

According to her family, Imaan has suffered a succession of unaddressed medical issues while incarcerated. Initially suffering from severe gum bleeding, she was unable to see a dentist because no dental specialist was available at the facility. Although her family provided dental medication following an independent consultation, they reported that only a portion of the prescribed drugs reached her in custody.

The statement noted that Imaan subsequently developed gastrointestinal complications and was prescribed "Zedron," a medication primarily administered to oncology patients that carries health warnings regarding use by women of childbearing age. Over the past week, her condition worsened into a severe chest infection. Although recent blood tests confirmed an active infection requiring an immediate chest X-ray, family members stated that prison administrators have yet to schedule the imaging procedure.

Imaan and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, have been detained at Adiala Jail since January 23, 2026, following a 17-year sentence handed down under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) over social media posts.

What systemic reforms and legal relief did the family demand?

The family highlighted broader systemic shortcomings within Adiala Jail's women's ward, alleging that inmates suffering from contagious illnesses are not placed in quarantine, creating high exposure risks for the general prison population. They called on authorities to establish isolation protocols for infectious diseases and guarantee consistent access to qualified female doctors and specialized medical care across all women's facilities.

The statement urged state officials and the prison administration to immediately facilitate Imaan's chest X-ray and arrange appropriate medical treatment. Family members also requested that the government refrain from opposing sentence suspension petitions for both Imaan and Chattha, which are scheduled to come up for hearing before the Islamabad High Court on September 8.