Iman Mazari, daughter of former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shireen Mazari, and her husband Hadi Chatha were arrested on Friday near Serena Chowk in Islamabad, according to lawyers present at the scene.
The couple was travelling from the Islamabad High Court to the District Court when law enforcement intercepted their vehicle. A large group of lawyers was accompanying them at the time.
The President of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, Waheed Ali Gilani, alleged that police stopped the vehicle near the High Court Bar premises despite prior assurances of safe passage.
No FIR shown, masked men, violence. State of play! pic.twitter.com/L48eOBPdgZ
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) January 23, 2026Gilani said he was present along with Bar Secretary Manzoor Jajja and several other lawyers. He stated that the administration and relevant authorities had guaranteed that no arrests would take place during court proceedings.
According to Gilani, police officers broke the vehicle’s windows and forcibly removed Iman Mazari and Hadi Chatha before taking them into custody. He further alleged that officers used force against lawyers who attempted to intervene, including himself.
‘Imaan Mazari was grabbed by the neck and shalwar by a masked man twice her size, in front of my own eyes’ — Bar President. pic.twitter.com/wHtZQNyZDy
— Alifya Sohail (@AlifyaSohail) January 23, 2026Following the arrests, Gilani announced a strike call from both the Islamabad High Court Bar and the District Bar. He urged lawyers to boycott court proceedings and gather outside the Women’s Police Station, Sitara Market, to register their protest.
The incident has heightened tensions within the legal community, with lawyers accusing authorities of violating professional assurances and using force in the presence of court officials.
