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Karachi Press Club Protest Blocked Over Imaan Mazari-Hazir Case
Lawyers, journalists, and activists protest Imaan Mazari-Hazir & Hadi Ali Chattha’s conviction, but roads to Karachi Press Club blocked by authorities.
ND
by News Desk
2026-01-26
Karachi Press Club Protest Blocked Over Imaan Mazari-Hazir Case

Roads leading to the Karachi Press Club (KPC) were blocked on Monday as lawyers, human rights activists, and civil society members staged a protest against the conviction of advocates Imaan Zainab Hazir-Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in a controversial social media posts case.

The protest led to the closure of key roads around Zainab Market and the roundabout near the Arts Council of Pakistan. Containers and parked buses were reportedly used to block access to the area.

Lawyer and human rights activist Jibran Nasir criticized the move, stating, “All roads leading to the KPC have been blocked… The state wants to deny journalists, advocates and civil society the right to protest and expose the sham trial and conviction of Advocates Imaan Mazaari and Hadi Ali Chatha.”

Journalist Sameer Mandhro posted on social media platform X that “police [have] blocked all routes leading to the Karachi Press Club,” highlighting the presence of journalists and activists protesting against the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the sentencing of the couple.

An update from the traffic police’s X account confirmed the closure of Deen Muhammad Wafai Road and Sarwar Shaheed Road at around 5pm for “security” reasons. The closures affected traffic in surrounding areas, including I.I. Chundrigar Road, Shaheen Complex Chowk, M.R. Kiyani Chowrangi, Aiwan-i-Sadr Road, Fawwara Chowk, and Zainab Market.

The protest comes after the Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka sentenced Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha to a total of 17 years in prison for allegedly disseminating controversial social media content linked to proscribed organizations.

The move to block roads has raised concerns among civil society and media representatives over restrictions on the right to protest and freedom of expression in the city.
Tagged:

KarachiProtest

PECA

ImaanMazari

HadiAliChattha
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