ISLAMABAD: Trial proceedings in the controversial social media posts case against lawyer and activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her spouse Hadi Ali Chattha were disrupted on Saturday after the couple boycotted the hearing before an Islamabad court.
Read More: Court sends Imaan Mazari, spouse to jail on judicial remand
The accused, who were arrested in a separate case on Friday and sent on judicial remand, appeared briefly via video link before Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka. The court had earlier declared the hearing the final opportunity for cross-examination in line with directions issued by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Police informed the court that transporting the accused from jail would take several hours due to security concerns and requested permission for their appearance through a video link. The court accepted the request. However, technical issues, including poor internet connectivity at Adiala jail, delayed the proceedings.
HRCP strongly condemns what appears to be the unlawful arrest and reported manhandling of lawyers @ImaanZHazir and @AdvHadiali by the Islamabad Capital Territory police while they were en route from the Islamabad High Court to the sessions court with the Islamabad High Court Bar…
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) January 23, 2026
When the hearing resumed, the court asked whether the defence wished to proceed with cross-examination. Imaan questioned the presence of media representatives and alleged that both she and her husband were being mistreated in custody, claiming they were denied food and water. Addressing the judge, she said that the situation was unfolding under the court’s authority before announcing a boycott of the proceedings.
Despite the judge advising the accused to remain present and await the verdict, both Imaan and Hadi exited the video link before the hearing concluded. The court subsequently directed staff to record the proceedings and include them in the official judicial record. Judge Majoka later reserved his written order on a defence request, while the trial remained pending.
Read More: Imaan, husband spend second night at IHC Bar amid arrest fears
The arrests have drawn criticism from rights organisations and public figures. Amnesty International described the cases as retaliatory and cited concerns over due process, while the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned the arrests as an attempt to silence dissent.
The case stems from an August 2025 complaint filed with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency over allegedly controversial social media posts.