Imaan Zainab Mazari – Hazir – Voice of Civil Liberties & Justice

Introduction

Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir is a bold and outspoken human rights lawyer in Pakistan, known for fearlessly advocating for civil liberties, minority rights, women’s rights, and holding powerful institutions to account. Daughter of politician and human rights minister Shireen Mazari, Imaan has forged her own identity in public life—often under intense scrutiny—and remains a leading figure in legal activism and social justice movements in Pakistan.

Early Life & Background

• Date of Birth / Age: Born in 1994 in Islamabad, Pakistan, making her about 31 years old in 2025.
• Place of Birth / Family Origins: Islamabad, of Baloch ethnicity.
• Parents: Her mother is Shireen Mazari, a well known politician and former federal minister for human rights. Her father is Tabish Hazir.

Growing up as the daughter of a high-profile human rights politician, Imaan saw from a young age the interplay of activism, law, media, and the pressures that come with public voice. Her family background exposed her to debates about civil liberties, rights abuses, and governance. This environment played a significant role in shaping her values and later her profession.

Education

• Imaan Mazari pursued her higher education at the University of Edinburgh, where she studied law.
• While studying, she began laying the foundations of her legal career—engaging with human rights issues, developing networks, and understanding international legal norms.

Her education in the UK, exposure to other legal systems, and capacity to compare institutional norms likely influenced her courage in taking on challenging cases back home.

Family Details

• Mother: Shireen Mazari — a prominent political figure, known for her role as the human rights minister and her activism.
• Father: Tabish Hazir.
• Ethnicity: Baloch.
• Spouse: Married to Abdul Hadi, who is also a human rights lawyer. The marriage took place December 2023.

Her family life remains relatively private beyond that; however, her relationships—especially her mother’s and her spouse’s—intersect with her public legal work.

Career Journey

Imaan’s legal career and activism are marked by strong cases, public statements, legal risks, and confrontations with state institutions.

• Early Activism & Public Voice: She came into public view through her critique of human rights issues in Pakistan—even when her mother, a political figure, was involved. One early controversy occurred during the 2017 Faizabad sit-in, when Imaan criticized military involvement in the agreement with protestors. Her remarks sparked backlash, including from social media.
• Legal Defence Work & Representation: She has represented journalists and activists facing harassment, defamation, or state pressure. For instance: Asad Ali Toor, Mudassar Naaru, Absar Alam are among those she has defended.
• Legal Challenges & Sedition Cases: In March 2022, she was named in a sedition FIR along with students protesting racial profiling of Baloch students. The Islamabad High Court prevented police from arresting her, and the case was later withdrawn.
• In 2023, she delivered a speech with the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement rally in Islamabad, making critical statements about the military. She was arrested, then released on bail, re-arrested in a terrorism-related case, and later got bail again. Her arrest and the charges drew criticism from human rights bodies, which accused the state of using vague or overbroad laws to curb dissent.

Major Achievements & Contributions

• Being among the few lawyers in Pakistan who take up high-risk cases involving free speech, enforced disappearances, and state accountability.
• Successfully defending clients who are under pressure from institutions. Her legal interventions in sedition and defamation cases have led to dismissals or bail orders.
• Public speaking and activism: she has used speeches, social media, and participation in protests to highlight human rights abuses—despite personal risk. (Wikipedia)

Latest News / Trending Updates

• In October 2024, Imaan and her husband were arrested in Islamabad in connection with allegations of interfering with state duties—specifically, during the visit of an international cricket team, police claimed road barriers were moved. Her mother decried the arrest as an assault and a sign of shrinking space for activists.
• Earlier, in August 2023, her arrest following a PTM-organized rally created headlines; and later legal action was taken in a terrorism case.
• She has also been involved in cases and speech controversies that led to FIRs and defamation complaints, many of which were later resolved or dismissed. Her ability to face these challenges has elevated her profile among civil society and rights watchers in Pakistan.

Personal Traits & Influence

• Imaan is widely seen as courageous, principled, and outspoken, especially in matters where many may hesitate. Her willingness to criticize powerful institutions—including the military—sets her apart in Pakistan’s legal-activist community.
• She is also seen as empathetic—focusing her legal work on marginalized communities (Baloch students, journalists under threat). Her voice resonates with younger people who seek transparency, justice, and rule of law.
• At the same time, her activism has drawn criticism and accusations from state actors; she often faces legal harassment and social backlash. Yet, she appears resolute in continuing her work.

Net Worth & Lifestyle

• There is no reliable public figure for her net worth. As a lawyer and activist, her income and assets are not widely disclosed.
• Lifestyle: she is based in Islamabad; involved heavily in activism; uses social media; her personal life (marriage to Abdul Hadi) is known but kept relatively private.

Conclusion

Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir is a portrait of courage: a young lawyer who has chosen high-stakes activism as her path, in a country where dissent is often met with resistance. Her journey is still unfolding, but her impact on rights and civil liberties in Pakistan is already significant.

Forward-looking line: As Imaan continues to litigate, protest, and challenge institutional overreach, her influence on shaping legal norms and civil society’s resilience in Pakistan will remain deeply meaningful.

FAQs

Personal Details

1. What is Imaan Mazari’s full name?
   Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir.
2. How old is she now?
   About 31 years as of 2025. (Born in 1994)
3. Where is she from?
   Islamabad, Pakistan.
4. What is her ethnicity?
   Baloch.
5. Who are her parents?
   Shireen Mazari (mother) and Tabish Hazir (father).
6. Is she married?
   Yes — to Abdul Hadi, a human rights lawyer. Married in December 2023.
7. Does she have siblings?
   No widely published information about siblings is available.
8. What languages does she speak?
   Likely Punjabi, Urdu, English; specific details less documented publicly.
9. Where does she live currently?
   Based in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Career & Activism

11. What is her profession?
    Human rights lawyer and activist.
12. Where did she study law?
    University of Edinburgh, UK.
13. What are her main focus areas?
    Civil liberties, women’s rights, freedom of expression, enforced disappearances, minority rights.
14. Has she represented journalists?
    Yes—for instance, Asad Ali Toor, Mudassar Naaru, Absar Alam.
15. What was the Faizabad Sit-in controversy?
    In 2017, Imaan criticized military involvement in a government agreement with the protestors. Her comments drew strong public attention and backlash.
16. Has she been involved in sedition cases?
    Yes—in March 2022 a sedition FIR was filed against her and students from Baloch students’ protest; later withdrawn.
17. Did she face defamation cases?
    Yes. Notably, the Pakistan Army filed an FIR for alleged defaming remarks, but the case was dismissed after she expressed regret.

Trending & Legal Updates

18. Was she arrested in 2023?
    Yes—in August 2023 after a PTM rally, then re-arrested in relation to a terrorism-related case.
19. Did she receive bail?
    Yes, granted bail in the ATC in September 2023.
20. What was the incident in October 2024?
    Imaan and her husband were arrested in Islamabad over allegations of interfering in state duties when trying to remove road barriers during a cricket team’s visit.
21. Has she denied certain allegations?
    Yes—she denied allegations of encouraging mutiny by soldiers in a case filed under PPC sections; she described them as mala fide and motivated to deter her activism.
22. Has the Islamabad High Court protected her from arrest at times?
    Yes—in March 2022 in the Baloch students protest case, the IHC ordered police not to arrest her.
23. What about cases involving remarks against the Army?
    A defamation case was filed, but later dismissed after she expressed regret under judicial proceeding.
24. Has her mother’s political situation impacted her?
    Yes—cases and statements involving her mother (Shireen Mazari) have often been linked to Imaan’s cases and statements.

Fun & Trivia

25. What does her name mean?
    “Imaan” means faith; “Zainab” is a traditional name; “Mazari-Hazir” combines her mother’s Mazari family name and father’s Hazir.
26. What are her personal values?
    She frequently emphasizes justice, constitutional rights, and minority protections.
27. Is she active on social media?
    Yes—she uses social media (particularly X / formerly Twitter) to share statements, activism, and announcements.
28. Has she ever apologized publicly?
    Yes—in the defamation case against her, she issued public regret and apology, which was a major part of the dismissal.
29. Does she work with activism groups?
    She has collaborated with journalists’ defence committees, student protest movements, and rights groups.
30. What is her long-term goal?
    While she hasn’t publicly stated a fixed goal, her continuing legal activism suggests she aims to strengthen rule of law, accountability, and civil rights in Pakistan.