Imaan Mazari, spouse out on bail

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has ordered the release of lawyer Iman Mazari and her spouse Hadi Ali Chattha, following a directive from the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which suspended the ATC's earlier decision approving their physical remand.

The ATC had initially granted a three-day physical remand concerning alleged violations of security measures implemented during the England cricket team's visit.

The appeal against the physical remand was heard by an IHC division bench, led by Chief Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Saman Riffat Imtiaz. Representing the petitioners, Advocates Zainab Janjua and Qaiser Imam argued against the remand. The court asked the prosecutor to present and review the remand request and the corresponding court order.

Chief Justice Farooq questioned the prosecutor about the correctness of the remand order, which the prosecutor confirmed.

However, the Chief Justice highlighted that the remand order did not comply with the Lahore High Court's guidelines.

Consequently, the IHC overruled the physical remand order, directing that the accused be placed on judicial remand instead. Following the IHC's instructions, ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra subsequently ordered the release of Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha on bail.