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Pakistan Arrests Rights Lawyers Defending Blasphemy Accused, Raising Retaliation Fears
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
ISLAMABAD (Worthy News) – Authorities in Pakistan have detained two prominent human rights lawyers known for defending people accused of blasphemy against Islam and exposing what supporters describe as a “blasphemy business” network, sources told Worthy News.
The arrest of Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha sparked concern among Pakistan’s legal community and international rights organisations over the weekend, with some supporters are suggesting the lawyers may have been targeted for their work related to blasphemy cases.
“Both lawyers have acted for families in over 70 cases linked to Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws. Many of these cases involve allegations of fabricated evidence, procedural irregularities, and misuse of the law for personal gain or vendetta,” said lawyer Farooq Bashir, a High Court advocate and the general secretary of the Christian Lawyers Alliance of Pakistan (CLAP).
Legal observers say Mazari and Chattha had been vocal in exposing irregularities in the implementation of the blasphemy law.
Their arrests follow developments in a case overseen by Judge Afzal Majoka, in which four defendants faced the death penalty. Defence lawyers alleged that a fabricated cross-examination was submitted during proceedings, and once the irregularities were challenged, pressure on the defence team intensified. Supporters argue the arrests appear linked to the lawyers’ advocacy and efforts to expose networks exploiting blasphemy laws.
LAWYERS WARN OF ‘DANGEROUS PRECEDENT’
“It is possible that these lawyers are being targeted not only for defending blasphemy accused but also for speaking out against the establishment or exposing the so-called blasphemy business gang,” Bashir told Worthy News in comments seen Sunday.
“If true, this sets a very dangerous precedent. Lawyers performing their professional duties should not face arrest or intimidation for challenging powerful interests,” he added. “Such actions undermine confidence in the justice system and put vulnerable communities at greater risk.”
Bashir stressed that blasphemy accusations disproportionately affect minorities, including Christians, and that fear of reprisals could discourage other lawyers from taking on such sensitive cases.
International human rights organisations have also expressed alarm. Amnesty International urged Pakistani authorities to uphold due process and avoid criminalising legal advocacy.
Human Rights Watch warned that targeting lawyers defending blasphemy accused could embolden those who misuse the law and obstruct fair trials. The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) stressed that “lawyers must be able to expose misconduct” and represent clients without fear of arrest or retaliation, particularly in capital cases.
PAKISTAN AMONG ‘WORST COUNTRIES FOR CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION’
Civil society advocates note that Mazari and Chattha had already faced threats due to their work on blasphemy cases. Activists warned their detention “may deter other lawyers” from challenging powerful networks allegedly exploiting blasphemy laws, leaving marginalized communities with limited access to justice.
Pakistan, a mainly Muslim nation, is ranked among the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians, placed number 7 on the latest Open Doors World Watch List of nations where it says believers face the most severe persecution.
The ranking is driven largely by the widespread use of blasphemy laws, mob violence, forced conversions, and systemic discrimination against religious minorities, including Christians and Ahmadis, rights groups say.
Authorities have so far declined to issue a detailed explanation of the charges against the detained lawyers, raising further concern among legal observers and international advocates.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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