An Anti-Terrorism (ATC) Court in Islamabad on Friday granted bail to human rights activists and lawyers Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in two separate cases and ordered their release.
ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain approved the bail petitions in a case relating to a protest outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The court granted bail against surety bonds of Rs 5,000 each after recording the complainant, Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Wajid Ali Gilani’s statement, in which he withdrew his complaint against Imaan and Hadi yesterday.
Counsel for the accused, Eimal Khan Mandokhail Advocate, appeared before the court on behalf of Mazari and Chattha.
During the hearing, he argued that his clients had not engaged in any fight or scuffle but were instead raising their voices in support of Justice Jahangiri outside the high court premises.
Eimal Khan Mandokhail maintained that a separate FIR related to a protest at the National Press Club had been registered without basis.
He told the court that the couple had consistently stood with victims and were engaged in pursuing cases of missing persons. He contended that the cases against them were fabricated due to their legal advocacy in enforced disappearance cases.
The prosecution opposed the bail applications. However, after hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved and later announced its decision, approving the bail petitions.
Cases against Mazari and Chattha have been registered at the Secretariat and Kohsar police stations in Islamabad.
Separately, the Islamabad High Court took up a miscellaneous application seeking early fixation of Imaan’s and Hadi’s plea for suspension of sentence in a controversial tweets case.
During Friday’s hearing, Justice Muhammad Asif informed counsel that a date would be given once previously scheduled matters were concluded.
State counsel Ali Azad and other lawyers requested that the case be fixed for hearing before Eid. The court directed its staff to schedule the matter in accordance with policy.
