Who is Imaan Mazari-Hazir? Rights lawyer in Pak re-arrested shortly after getting bail

Pakistan's former minister of human rights Shireen Mazari’s daughter Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir was re-arrested shortly after being granted bail in a sedition case. On Monday, Mazari was arrested once again by the Islamabad police and was taken to the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. 

According to Pakistani news outlet, Geo News, the human rights lawyer was taken to police custody in a case registered in Barakahu police station in Islamabad. As per the reports, the case was registered against her under the  Anti-Terrorism Act.

Shortly after the rearrest, Mazari’s counsel stated that the police did not inform them about the case in which the daughter of the Pakistani politician was arrested. Earlier today, Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted her bail in a sedition case filed against her over controversial speech against the erstwhile ruling regime. She was granted bail along with  Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Ali Wazir who was arrested in the same case, Geo News reported. 

The FIRs 

On August 19, two FIRs were filed against Imaan and Wazir at the Tarnol police station and Counter-Terrorism Department Police Station. According to the Geo News, the FIRs were registered a day after Imaan allegedly gave a provocative speech against the then-ruling regime at a PTM rally in Islamabad. On August 20, both Mazari and Wazir were arrested on charges of sedition, preventing government officials from carrying out their duties and damaging public property.

On Monday morning, ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain heard the plea and approved the bail petition of Imaan and Wazir against surety bonds of PKR 30,000 each. In today’s hearing, Prosecutor Raja Naveed argued that over 1,000 people were present at the rally where Imaan gave the address. He reasoned that the daughter of the Pakistani politician accused the government of committing treason in her speech. However, the prosecutors failed to produce the USB that allegedly contained the controversial speech. Her mother Shireen Mazari served as the Human Rights Minister under the Imran Khan administration. However, she quit the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf shortly after Khan's brief arrest on May 9, which caused riots like situation across the country.