Web Desk: Islamabad High Court granted two-day protective bail to prominent human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, temporarily restraining authorities from arresting them in connection with a protest-related case.
Justice Azam Khan heard petitions filed by the couple and directed them to approach the relevant trial court within two days to seek further legal relief.
The court ordered Mazari and Chattha to submit surety bonds of 10,000 rupees ($36) each and restrained law enforcement agencies from taking them into custody during the bail period.
Advocate Kamran Murtaza represented the petitioners during the hearing, which was attended by a large number of lawyers and officials of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, who appeared in solidarity with the couple.
The case stems from a first information report (FIR) registered in July over a protest organised by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). Although the FIR had been on record for months, the couple had not obtained bail in the case.
Concerns escalated after reports emerged of a new FIR linked to the same matter, prompting Mazari and Chattha to seek urgent protective bail.
Mazari and Chattha had been present at the Islamabad High Court since the previous day while pursuing legal protection. To avoid arrest, they took shelter overnight in the office of the IHC Bar Association president.
A heavy police contingent remained stationed outside the court premises during this period, heightening tensions around the case.
Meanwhile, following the emergence of the new FIR, the legal branch of the Islamabad District and Sessions Courts was sealed on orders from senior police officials. Sources said staff members were accused of leaking the FIR, triggering an internal inquiry.
With the two-day protective bail in place, Mazari and Chattha are now required to approach the relevant court to seek pre-arrest or post-arrest bail as proceedings continue.
The case has drawn attention from legal circles and rights advocates, underscoring ongoing concerns about protests, policing, and the legal treatment of activists in Pakistan.
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