The remarks follow the arrest of three leaders of Human Rights Defenders Coalition Timothy Mtambo, Gift Trapence and McDonald Sembereka coming immediately after President Peter Mutharika threatened to deal with them at a political rally.

“We do not condone politically motivated arrests. That is against the law. The police need to act professionally and independently. That is the mandate that they have according to the law,” he said.

Semphere said MHRC is confident justice on the three activists will be served through the courts.

“We are glad that the three were charged and released. We have confidence in the competence and independence of the court (and) that the HRDC members will be able to receive fair trial,” he added.

National police spokesperson, James Kadadzera dismissed claims the law enforcers adhere to political instructions.

“The remarks made by the 3 HRDC leaders are against some of the laws of Malawi, we are looking at the penal code and the police act, so it is basically law enforcement,” he said.

The 3 are currently on bail and were arrested on charges of inciting others to commit an offence when they threatened to mobilize Malawians to seal all State Residences on 25^th March.

Meanwhile, several international bodies such as the Southern Africa Human Rights Defending Network have condemned the arrest of the three HRDC leaders, calling upon President Mutharika to address the current political impasse and assenting to the electoral reforms bill other than threatening the rights activists.