Imaan Mazari

Human rights lawyer

Pakistani Islamabad, Pakistan

Quick Info

ProfessionHuman rights lawyer
NationalityPakistani
Date of Birth21/07/1994
Age31 years
BirthplaceIslamabad, Pakistan

Latest News about Imaan Mazari

24/01/2026

An Islamabad court sentenced Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha to lengthy prison terms and heavy fines over alleged anti-state social media posts. The case centered on posts the prosecution said glorified banned groups and undermined state institutions, which rights groups described as a politically motivated crackdown on free expression.

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Bio/Wiki

Full NameImaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir
Other NameImaan Zainab
Known forBeing a prominent Pakistani lawyer and human rights activist, sentenced to 10-17 years imprisonment for social media posts critical of Pakistan's military and government.

Physical Stats & More

Height5' 4" (163 cm)
Eye ColorLight Brown
Hair ColorLight Ash Brown

Educational Qualification(s)

College/University
  • University of Edinburgh, Scotland
  • University of Vienna, Austria
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's of Law (2011-2015)
  • Master's in International Law and Legal Studies (2018)
  • Bachelor of Laws

Personal Life

ReligionIslam
Hobbies
  • Reading
  • Writing
Controversies
  • Multiple FIRs, Legal cases, and arrest warrants related to protests and social media statements (2021-2026).
  • Arrested and sentenced to 10-17 years in January 2026 for social media posts deemed anti-state and critical of Pakistan's military.
  • Multiple FIRs and legal cases related to protests and activism (2021-2026).
  • Charged with sedition in March 2022 for protesting racial profiling of Baloch students; charges later retracted.

Relationships & More

Marital StatusMarried
Marriage DateDecember 2023
HusbandHadi Ali Chattha (Human Rights Lawyer)
SpouseHadi Ali Chattha (Human Rights Lawyer)
Spouse StatusAlso sentenced to 10-17 years in January 2026 alongside Imaan Mazari

Family

FatherTabish Hazir (deceased, renowned paediatrician)
MotherShireen Mazari (former Federal Minister for Human Rights, politician)
SiblingsOne younger brother
Other Relative
GrandfatherTaufiq Raufat (poet)

Career

AwardsYoung Inspiration Award (2025) by the World Expression Forum
Career OverviewImaan Mazari is a prominent human rights lawyer and activist who has dedicated her career to defending civil liberties and representing persecuted communities in Pakistan. She is widely respected by international human rights organizations for her advocacy on behalf of religious and ethnic minorities, journalists, and victims of state violence. She has taken on sensitive pro bono cases involving enforced disappearances, racial profiling, blasphemy charges, and press freedom violations.
Notable Events
  • Gained notoriety during the 2017 Faizabad sit-in for expressing controversial opinions regarding military involvement.
  • Participated actively in the Journalists’ Defense Committee during the 2020 defamation cases against journalists.
  • Gained notoriety during the 2017 Faizabad sit-in for expressing criticism of military involvement in government-protester agreements.
  • Arrested in August 2023 during a Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) rally after publicly describing Pakistan's military as 'terrorists'; later granted bail.
  • Arrested on January 25, 2026, along with her husband Hadi Ali Chattha while heading to court in Islamabad.
  • Sentenced to 10-17 years imprisonment in January 2026 for social media posts accused of being anti-state and praising banned groups.
Notable Cases & Work
  • Represented numerous journalists including Asad Ali Toor, Mudassar Naaru, and Absar Alam through the Journalists' Defense Committee (2020 onwards).
  • Defended Mahrang Baloch and other Baloch activists facing racial profiling and surveillance.
  • Represented missing persons and victims of enforced disappearances in Islamabad.
  • Defended individuals accused under Pakistan's blasphemy laws and Afghan nationals facing government crackdowns.

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Imaan Mazari has become a key figure in defending civil liberties, often working on cases involving ethnic Baloch activists and those accused under strict blasphemy laws.
2. She has consistently faced legal challenges and intimidation for her outspoken criticism of the government and military, reflecting a broader crackdown on dissent in Pakistan.
3. Throughout her struggles, she has been compared to the late Asma Jahangir, a celebrated human rights lawyer in Pakistan.
4. According to the Asian Human Rights Commission, she is 'a distinguished human rights lawyer, widely respected for her advocacy on behalf of persecuted religious and ethnic communities.'
5. She served a legal notice against Brigadier Tariq Izaz for defamation after a targeted social media campaign against her in 2017.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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