A physical altercation broke out among lawyers at the Islamabad High Court on Monday, March 2, 2026, with video footage of the scuffle circulating on social media, according to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by NBT News.
The incident occurred during a protest, though the specific grievances prompting the demonstration were not immediately clear from the initial reports. However, the unrest follows a period of escalating tensions between the judiciary and Pakistan’s intelligence agencies, specifically the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Recent reports indicate that several judges have accused the ISI of intimidation and interference in judicial proceedings.
This accusation of intimidation comes after judges detailed events that led to what they described as the “demolition” of the Islamabad High Court, alleging pressure and undue influence from intelligence operatives. The details of these allegations were reported by Dawn, adding a layer of complexity to the current situation.
Simultaneously, human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha have been arrested and sentenced, a move Front Line Defenders has characterized as arbitrary. The arrests raise concerns about the targeting of legal professionals involved in sensitive cases and the broader suppression of dissent within Pakistan. The specific charges against Mazari-Hazir and Chattha were not immediately available, but their detention adds to the growing list of concerns regarding the rule of law and freedom of expression in the country.
Al Jazeera reported that the accusations leveled against the ISI by Pakistani jurists represent a significant challenge to the agency’s authority and a potential crisis within the country’s power structures. The judges’ claims suggest a systematic effort to undermine the independence of the judiciary, raising questions about the fairness and impartiality of legal proceedings.
As of Tuesday, March 3, 2026, no official statement has been released by the Islamabad High Court or the Pakistani government regarding the incident involving the lawyers, nor regarding the allegations against the ISI. A hearing is scheduled for later this week to address the judges’ concerns, according to sources within the legal community.