Tag: Hadi Ali

  • Police arrest Imaan Mazari, husband for removing barricades

    Police arrest Imaan Mazari, husband for removing barricades

    Lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali, have been arrested over their recent “interference in government operations”.

    As per the details, police had registered a case against Mazari and her husband at the Aabpara Police Station for “creating security risk and interfering in government matters”.

    The case was registered after Mazari and her husband had gotten into an altercation with local police and removed barricades setup for movement of the English national cricket team in Islamabad last week.

    Shireen Mazari confirmed the arrest of her daughter in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

    “Imaan Mazari has been arrested this morning. State fascism in full swing. On Friday at the road barrier @ICT_Police swung the steel barrier delib into her assaulting her as videos show & injured her. Who will hold police accountable 4 terrorism? @MohsinnaqviC42, shameful coward!,” she wrote.

    Islamabad Police, on the other hand, wrote on X, “Islamabad Police has taken legal action and arrested Iman Mazari Hazir and Hadi Ali as per the law and regulations.

    A police spokesperson also clarified that the arrest of the couple had come after they clashed with police at Zero Point Interchange, attempting to clear road blockades set up for the England team’s protocol.

    Imaan’s husband “thrashed capital police, abused them and threatened them with dire consequences”, police said.

    Speaking to journalist Matiullah Jan on October 25, Human Rights activist Imaan Mazari Hazir stated, “Islamabad police, along with traffic police, had closed the road around 8:30 am; there was a lot of crowd. Hadi came out of the car and asked the police why there were barricades on the road. Traffic police responded that they would open the road in the next 5 minutes as the England team crossed the road.”

    “After the road was not cleared of said time, I, along with my husband, again came out from the car to clear the road to clear the barricades, and the road is not anyone’s inherited,” Mazari said furiously.

  • Chief Justice wants to send contempt of court notice to FIA in Asad Toor case

    Chief Justice wants to send contempt of court notice to FIA in Asad Toor case

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa expressed concerns on Monday on the use of the Supreme Court’s name in initiating action against journalist and vlogger Asad Toor, highlighting discrepancies in the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

    “The inquiry notice [sent to Asad Toor] stated that he is being summoned in an inquiry related to an anti-judiciary campaign whereas the FIR didn’t even mention as such,” CJP Isa said.

    During a hearing of a suo motu case, a three-member Supreme Court bench, comprising CJP Isa, Justice Muhammed Ali Mazhar, and Justice Mussarat Hilali, addressed issues of journalists’ harassment over FIA summons related to the Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) probe into an alleged anti-judiciary campaign.

    On January 17, the then-caretaker government formed a JIT to investigate a social media campaign targeting Supreme Court judges following a verdict on the election symbol of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). However, the court intervened after FIA summons were sent to journalists and prohibited action against individuals criticizing the apex court.

    Despite the court’s intervention, Toor was arrested by the FIA on February 26 in connection with the alleged smear campaign against the Supreme Court and CJP and is currently in custody.

    During the hearing, Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed, representing the Press Association of the Supreme Court (PAS) and the Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA), informed the court of Toor’s incarceration.

    The CJP questioned the reasons behind Toor’s imprisonment, prompting the lawyer to refer to the FIR against the journalist and request the court to invalidate the government’s notification forming the JIT.

    CJP Isa raised concerns about the charges in the FIR against Toor, particularly those related to sensitive information, questioning their relevance and applicability.

    Highlighting the discrepancies in the FIA’s notice and the FIR against Toor, CJP Isa said: “Neither any SC judge nor the registrar had filed any complaint to the FIA”.

    “The officials of FIA are bringing disrepute to the judiciary,” the chief justice observed while lamenting the prospects of the judiciary’s image being tarnished before the public.

    “Why shouldn’t we send a notice to the FIA for contempt of court?” he questioned.

    Furthermore, the top judge admonished the Inspector General Police (IGP) Islamabad for failing to make progress in apprehending suspects despite video evidence, hinting at the possibility of the IGP’s dismissal for inadequate performance.

  • Arrested journalist Asad Toor goes on hunger strike

    Arrested journalist Asad Toor goes on hunger strike

    Journalist and vlogger Asad Toor has initiated a hunger strike following his detention by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on charges related to his social media activities.

    Toor’s lawyer, Hadi Ali Chatta, disclosed on Thursday that the vlogger has abstained from eating since the past 36 hours. The update on Toor’s health came after his mother was permitted to visit him on court orders at the FIA office.

    “@AsadAToor specifically told me that he is not being asked any questions regarding the judiciary but is asked about his vlogs against military and questions are being asked about specific generals and vlogs against them . Questions are sent in the FIA office on a “parchi” and @AsadAToor‘s answers are also sent out thru a “parchi” . He is on hunger strike and has refused to eat anything for the last 36 hours. Last night rescue 1122 had to be called because of his deteriorating health,” wrote Hadi on X (former Twitter).

    Concerns about Toor’s well-being escalated when he fell ill last night, prompting the FIA to call in rescue personnel. However, despite his deteriorating health, Toor has not been questioned about the alleged anti-judiciary campaign but rather about his vlogs concerning other individuals, as indicated by his legal representation.

    Imaan Mazari, another lawyer representing Toor, emphasized that the ongoing investigation does not pertain to contempt of judges.

    “On court order, counsels & @AsadAToor’s mother were allowed to meet him today in FIA CCRC Isb. He is on hunger strike and though his spirits are high, he is physically very weak. We are very concerned abt his health. Not a single q in investigation has been on subject of enquiry,” wrote Imaan on X (former Twitter).

    The situation unfolded further on Tuesday when Judicial Magistrate Islamabad Muhammad Shabbir remanded the vlogger into custody for five days, with a directive for the agency to present him again on March 3, 2024.

    During the hearing, Toor, identifying himself as a journalist, refused to surrender his mobile phone. He asserted that he had appeared before the FIA twice and had received the notice on February 24. Moreover, he mentioned that he had challenged the call-up notice in the high court and arrived at the FIA office with the court’s order on February 26 to inquire about the FIR and the allegations against him.

    The FIR against Toor alleges that he conducted a malicious campaign against the judiciary on social media platforms, specifically X and YouTube, fueling anti-state activities. Consequently, he has been booked under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016.

    Toor’s detention and subsequent hunger strike have sparked concerns among human rights advocates and journalists regarding freedom of expression and press freedom in Pakistan.

  • Meet Abdul Hadi, legal eagle and Imaan Mazari’s husband

    Meet Abdul Hadi, legal eagle and Imaan Mazari’s husband

    Daughter of former federal minister Shireen Mazari, Imaan Zainab Mazaari Hazir, recently married the love of her life Abdul Hadi Ali Chattha, in a ceremony in Islamabad.

    Have you searched on Google who is Imaan Mazari’s husband?

    Abdul Hadi Ali Chattha is the Vice Chairman of the Human Rights Committee, Punjab Bar Council and Founder of Fair Trial Defenders Legal Aid Cell.

    Well, we got a chance to talk with him and as a Multani, I am filled with happiness and joy that Imaan married someone who was born and raised on a farm (Pind) in Multan.

    Abdul Hadi Ali Chattha did his O levels and A levels from Beaconhouse and went to Newcastle University UK for LLB Hons.

    He takes pride in being a Multani and honestly, so do I.

    When asked when the couple first met, Hadi said, “We first met in F-8 Katcheri because I was there for a client and got introduced to Imaan. We appeared in court together for that case.”

    He started working at AGHS legal aid cell with the late human rights giant Asma Jehangir after coming back from the UK.

    After her death, he worked at Justice Project Pakistan with Barrister Sarah Belal.

    When asked why he left the U.K. or cities like Islamabad and Lahore and came back to Multan, Hadi said, “In 2018 I came back to Multan and established my legal aid cell, Fair Trial Defenders Legal Aid Cell, to give back to the people of my land. We provide free legal representation to clients who can’t afford legal expenses. We have a core team of six lawyers with my co-founder Suleman A Zeb.”

    What do you love the most about Imaan?

    “It’s very difficult to answer that because it’s everything about her.”

    He was initially attracted because of her passion and bravery for the work she does. It’s also the side of her no one else knows, she keeps it hidden from the public eye.

    Head over heels in love with Imaan, Hadi said, “I have never met anyone like her. She’s the only one of her kind.”

    Since Imaan has been to jail recently, I asked him if he would go to jail for her. “I would go to jail with her. No one’s arresting my wife unless they arrest me too.”

    Hadi has decided to move his practice to Islamabad, getting an office there in June 2023. “We will be living in Islamabad, serving the people in Multan through Legal Aid Cell.”

    I asked if they intended to start a podcast together Hadi said nothing of the sort is happening in the near future.

    Hadi has been a great support and core organizer of Aurat March Multan since 2020. He looks after all the legal matters and NOCs required.

    When asked whether the couple will be seen in Aurat March Multan 2024 together, Hadi said, “Maybe one year in Islamabad March and one in Multan March. Wherever our comrades need us. “

    The most thoughtful part is that they didn’t have a wedding hashtag or an extravagant wedding. “We both wanted it to be as small and intimate as possible. We feel guilty being extravagant especially because of what is happening around us with our Baloch brothers and sisters and the situation in Gaza.”