Asian Federation Against 
What's Happening
Systematic Judicial Persecution and Erosion of Due Process in Pakistan: The Case of Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha
This statement addresses the grave deterioration of judicial independence and due process in Pakistan, as reflected in the case of Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha. At the epicenter of this crisis is the case of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, whose arbitrary arrest on January 23, 2026, and subsequent 17-year prison sentence on January 24, 2026, represent a watershed moment for the rule of law in South Asia . This case is not merely a localized legal dispute; It demonstrates the use of criminal law to silence human rights defenders. The sentencing of Mazari and Chattha to a combined 17 years in prison was facilitated by the strategic deployment of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), specifically as modified by the draconian 2025 amendments .
Standing for Truth and Justice in Nepal: AFAD’s Visit to Human Rights Defenders and Families
AFAD recently concluded a series of deeply moving meetings in Nepal with human rights defenders (HRDs) and the families of victims of enforced disappearances (ED). As the country navigates a "second transition" following recent Gen-Z protests, we are here to ensure that emerging political issues do not drown out the calls for transitional justice.
AFAD Statement on Pakistan’s 27th Amendment, Shrinking Civic Space, and the Challenge for Human Rights Defenders (HRDs)
The 27th Constitutional Amendment (PCA) proposes sweeping changes to Pakistan’s political and institutional framework. It will restructure Article 243 to create a new position for the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), granting the army chief overarching command over all military branches and abolishing the post of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee[1]. The amendment also confers lifetime criminal immunity upon five-star officers, allowing them to retain their rank, privileges, and uniform indefinitely.
AFAD Condemns Indonesia's Move to Declare Dictator Soeharto a National Hero, Warning of Deepening Historical Revisionism and National Trauma
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) condemns in the strongest possible terms the decision by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to posthumously declare the late dictator Soeharto a “national hero” on November 10, Heroes Day. This action, taken despite protests from numerous historians, activists, and civil society members, represents a profound betrayal of justice and an alarming descent into historical revisionism.
