An anti terrorism court in Islamabad has granted post arrest bail to lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha in the widely discussed police scuffle case. The decision came after both were taken into custody last month over an alleged altercation outside the Islamabad High Court.
The case was registered at the Secretariat Police Station, and the bail applications were heard by ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain. The court approved bail against surety bonds of Rs10,000 each. During proceedings, defense counsel argued that the case was fabricated and based on a fictitious incident. According to the petitioners, even those named in the FIR were unaware of the accusations until arrests were made.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved its verdict before announcing approval of the bail pleas. However, despite securing relief in the scuffle case, the couple will remain behind bars due to a separate conviction linked to controversial social media posts.
In a related development, the Islamabad High Court issued notices to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency on petitions filed by the couple challenging their conviction under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act Peca 2016. The petitions claim the trial was illegal and arbitrary and seek suspension of their sentences along with release on bail during the appeal process.
Last month, a district court sentenced both to 17 years imprisonment each under multiple sections of Peca. The verdict included heavy financial penalties, with fines reaching millions of rupees. Authorities alleged that the couple attempted to incite divisions through online content, an accusation strongly denied by the defense.
The case continues to draw attention as legal proceedings unfold in higher courts.
