Web Desk: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad granted post-arrest bail to human rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in a case linked to an alleged confrontation with police officers. The court set surety bonds of Rs10,000 each for the couple, whose case was registered at the Secretariat Police Station.
The ATC proceedings centered on accusations that the couple clashed with police during a public protest. Defence counsel Ali Azad told the court that the allegations were baseless and the FIR had been lodged on fabricated claims. After hearing arguments from both sides, ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain approved the bail application.
In a related development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices regarding appeals filed by Mazari and Chattha challenging their convictions in the controversial social media case. The couple had previously been sentenced to 17 years in prison under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, for allegedly posting anti-state content on social media.
During Wednesday’s hearing before Justice Muhammad Asif, advocates Faisal Siddiqui, Zainab Janjua, and others requested an expedited hearing date. Siddiqui argued that the trial court had delivered its verdict while a transfer application was still pending and that statements of two witnesses were recorded without the presence of the accused. He also claimed that a paragraph had been omitted from the judgment at the time of its announcement.
Justice Asif assured the petitioners that a hearing date would be set and issued notices to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to respond to the appeals. Proceedings were adjourned pending replies from the authorities.
The ATC bail and the IHC notices come amid ongoing scrutiny of Mazari and Chattha’s cases, which have drawn attention from human rights groups and legal observers in Pakistan. While the couple has regained temporary relief through bail, the outcome of the appeals in the tweets case will determine the next stage of their legal struggle.
Analysts say the developments highlight tensions between law enforcement, judiciary, and activists in Pakistan, particularly around the use of social media and freedom of expression.
Read more: Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha arrested in Islamabad
