As many as 60 female lawyers have condemned the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Advocates Zainab Janjua, Imaan Mazari, and others and demanded the withdrawal of the same. In a statement issued by the female lawyers on Sunday, they unequivocally condemned the registration of the (FIR) against Advocates Zainab Janjua, Imaan Mazari, and others by the president of Islamabad High Court Bar Association.
The lawyers including Rabbiya Bajwa, Advocate Supreme Court, Sabahat Rizvi, Advocate Supreme Court, Barrister Khadija Siddigi, Advocate High Court, Aliza Masood Reza, Rida Hosain and others said that both Zainab and Imaan are well-respected lawyers and advocates of the High Court. They demanded that the president of the IHCBA should be standing with independent lawyers, not punishing them for expressing their views.
“The actions of the President IHCBA will have a chilling effect on the right to protest, freedom of speech, and holding institutions accountable,” said the lawyers. They added, “It is shameful that the President IHCBA, Wajid Gillani, is targeting members of his own Bar. Targeting female lawyers sets a dangerous precedent of silencing dissent. Such actions reflect a troubling abuse of authority and a blatant attempt to intimidate and suppress independent voices.”
“The use of criminal proceedings against members of the Bar, particularly women, reveals an alarming disregard for principles of justice. We are deeply concerned about the misuse of criminal processes to suppress opposition and curtail the independence of lawyers. Even more condemnable is the invocation of the provisions of the anti-terrorism law. The videos of the protest are available for all to see for themselves,” said the female lawyers.
They continued that it is disgraceful that a protest is being classified as terrorism, and independent lawyers are being categorised as criminals.
The lawyers concluded that they stand in full solidarity with Zainab and Imaan, and reaffirm their commitment to a legal system that upholds the rule of law, not one that weaponises it. They demanded that they call for the immediate withdrawal of the FIR, and urge the authorities to ensure that the law is not used as a weapon against those who defend it. The state must guarantee the safety, dignity, and freedom of all lawyers to work without fear of persecution or reprisal.
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