October 29, 2025
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
Civil society representatives have expressed anger and outrage at the abduction of a student activist and a human rights lawyer. The Joint Action Committee for People’s Rights (JAC) on Wednesday said that the abduction of Ghani Aman Chandio in Karachi and the arrest of Advocate Hadi Ali Chatta is Islamabad was an extremely repressive act by the State. The statement by the alliance of 37 human rights organisations, human rights defenders and collectives was released on Wednesday and condemned the pattern to silence dissent in the country.
Student activist Ghani was abducted on Tuesday, October 28, by plain-clothed men, from the Memona Hospital in Karachi, where his daughter was receiving treatment. The men were accompanied by Rangers’ personnel. Meanwhile human rights lawyer Advocate Hadi Ali Chatta was arrested from a Sessions’ court in Islamabad the following day (Wednesday, 29 October), in relation to a case of “anti-state” and “controversial” tweets under the draconian Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). He had paradoxically been arrested for non-appearance in court despite being present in court.
Why was Ghani targeted?
Ghani, a student leader and the Chief Organizer of the Sindhian National Students Federation, has been speaking out on issues of state oppression and social injustices for years, as a student leader in Sindh. He has been an active part of organising the protests on Cholistan Canals and has consistently spoken up about extra-judicial killings in Sindh. At the time of his abduction, he was in the presence of his daughter and wife, and was assaulted while being forcibly taken away. There is currently no information regarding his current whereabouts.
“Ghani Aman is a peaceful political activist who has neither been charged nor prosecuted,” says Ali Raza a student activist himself from the Progressive Student Collective (PSC). “In fact, this kidnapping by the security agencies seems to be part of the strategy of ‘rule by fear’ in the country – the same strategy that started with an idea of making the country a so-called hard state. But I believe that in a country like Pakistan, which has a history of resistance, this strategy will never succeed. We demand the immediate release of Ghani Aman and we want to tell the state not to humiliate us or be humiliated by such acts. We will not compromise on our right to politics, right to expression and right to protest.”
HRCP demands the immediate recovery of political activist Ghani Aman Chandio, who was forcibly taken into custody, allegedly by state operatives at a hospital in Karachi, where he was tending to his young daughter. The manner in which this action was taken is deeply concerning.…
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) October 29, 2025
Meanwhile international rights body, Amnesty International, also released a similar statement on Wednesday condemning the two incidents.
“The abduction of student activist Ghani Aman Chandio on 28 October from Memona Hospital in Karachi, allegedly by state forces, is deeply troubling. The abduction of a father visiting his hospitalized infant daughter is not only cruel and inhumane, but also a blatant attack on his rights to liberty, dignity and due process,” said the statement. “According to eyewitnesses, plain-clothes men accompanied by uniformed law enforcement officials, abducted Ghani, intimidated bystanders in the hospital and confiscated the mobile phones of all family members present. Ghani had previously been named in a criminal case on charges of “anti-state” slogans during a protest and had delivered a lecture at the local university on student politics the day before his abduction. We are very concerned about Ghani’s safety. The Pakistani authorities must immediately disclose Ghani’s fate and whereabouts and ensure his safe return. Further, authorities must conduct a prompt, thorough, independent, impartial, transparent and effective investigation into his abduction, and bring to justice all those suspected to be responsible.”
Booking of lawyer Hadi Ali Chatta
Hadi Ali is a well-known human rights lawyer based in Islamabad who has been fighting tirelessly for civic freedoms, representing activists, journalists and victims of enforced disappearances. He, along with lawyer Imaan Mazari, was charged under Sections 9, 10, 11 and 26-A under PECA for so-called “anti-state” posts on social media.
A member of Women Action Forum (WAF) expressed her anger at the situation. She said that it had become a daily situation where the State tightens its grip on sane voices.
JAC has demanded from the Sindh Government and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) that Ghani Aman Chandio be immediately released and returned, and those responsible for his abduction be held accountable. It has also demanded that the NCCIA immediately release Advocate Hadi Chatta and ensure that his right to due process and freedom of expression are respected. All charges of “anti-state” social media posts must be dropped against both Hadi and Imaan Mazari, the JAC stated. ‘These violent practices to suppress dissent must end,’ said the statement.