Imaan Mazari, Hadi Ali Chattha granted bail by ATC in police scuffle case

Separately, IHC issues notices in appeal against controversial tweets case sentences

ISLAMABAD:

An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Wednesday granted bail to rights advocate Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in a case involving a confrontation with the police.

Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain ruled in favour of the accused, granting post-arrest bail on sureties of Rs10,000 each. The case, registered at the Secretariat Police Station, involves accusations of a police altercation and public protest.

Read: Court cancels bail of Imaan Mazari, husband in social media posts case

Representing the accused, state lawyer Ali Azad claimed the charges were unfounded, with the FIR being filed based on fabricated and non-existent events. After hearing arguments from both parties, the court issued a favourable ruling for the accused.

Separately, the Islamabad High Court issued notices on the appeals filed by Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha against their sentences in the controversial tweets case. The court also issued notices in response to their requests for the suspension of the sentences, seeking responses from the concerned authorities.

During the hearing, a representative of the petitioners, Advocate Faisal Siddiqui, urged the court to set an early date for the next hearing. In response, Justice Muhammad Asif said that a date would be provided.

The hearing was held before Justice Muhammad Asif of the Islamabad High Court. Advocates Siddiqui, Zainab Janjua, and others represented Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha. Siddiqui stated that the transfer request for the case was still pending when the trial court issued its verdict. He also pointed out that statements from two witnesses were recorded in the absence of the accused.

Siddiqui further mentioned that when the verdict was issued, one paragraph had been removed by the trial judge.

Read more: Imaan Mazari alleges mistreatment as court hears tweet case via video link

“If you want to impose a sentence, impose it ten times, but at least conduct the trial,” he said. Justice Asif responded that notices were being issued, and the paper books would arrive soon. Siddiqui requested that the court schedule the suspension hearing on a day when he could be present, as he travels from Karachi. When asked by the court when he would be available, Siddiqui suggested Monday or Tuesday.

The court confirmed that a date would be set and issued notices to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), requesting a response. The court then adjourned the further hearing of the case.

The trial court had sentenced Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha to 17 years of imprisonment each.

Case history

Human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, were convicted by a district and sessions court in Islamabad in a case about controversial social media posts and sentenced to 17-year prison terms.

The case centres on alleged controversial posts and reposts on X, formerly Twitter, which authorities have described as “anti-state”. The NCCIA had registered the case in August last year under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, alleging that the content was intended to incite divisions and portray state institutions negatively.

Much earlier in the proceedings, the trial court issued non-bailable arrest warrants after the accused failed to appear, drawing criticism and legal challenges from the defence. Mazari and Chattha later approached the Islamabad High Court, alleging a lack of transparency and procedural irregularities, including the recording of evidence in their absence and without proper legal representation.

Their request to transfer the case was heard by the high court, which declined to grant an immediate stay. The couple then moved to the Supreme Court, which ordered a temporary halt to the trial until the high court completes its hearing.

Both the IHCBA and the Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) issued separate statements condemning the arrest of the lawyer couple. The IBA, in a meeting, termed it an “illegal and unconstitutional” arrest and urged the authorities to immediately release both on January 23.