Separately, IHC issues appeal opinions against controversial tweet convictions
Lawyer and rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Wednesday granted bail to rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chatha, in a case involving a police encounter.
Justice Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain ruled in favor of the accused, granting post-arrest bail to the sureties of Rs 10,000 each. The case, registered at the Secretariat police station, involves charges of police altercation and public protest.
Read: Court cancels bail of Imaan Mazari, her husband in social media posts case
Representing the accused, state lawyer Ali Azad claimed that the charges were baseless as the FIR was filed on the basis of fabricated and non-existent events. After hearing the arguments of both parties, the court rendered a decision in favor of the accused.
Separately, the Islamabad High Court issued notices on the appeals filed by Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha against their convictions in the controversial tweets case. The court also issued notices in response to their demands for suspension of sentences, seeking responses from the authorities concerned.
During the hearing, a representative of the petitioners, lawyer Faisal Siddiqui, urged the court to fix an early date for the next hearing. In response, Justice Muhammad Asif said a date would be provided.
The hearing was held before Justice Muhammad Asif of the Islamabad High Court. Lawyers Siddiqui, Zainab Janjua and others represented Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha. Siddiqui said the request to transfer the case was still pending when the trial court delivered its verdict. He also pointed out that the statements of two witnesses were recorded in the absence of the accused.
Siddiqui also mentioned that when the verdict was delivered, a paragraph was removed by the trial judge.
Learn more: Imaan Mazari alleges mistreatment as court hears case over tweet via video link
“If you want to impose a sentence, impose it ten times, but at least conduct the trial,” he said. Justice Asif replied that notices were being issued and the paper books would arrive soon. Siddiqui requested the court to fix the suspension hearing on a day when he could be present, as he is 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 fixed and issued notices to the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), seeking a response. The court then adjourned further hearing.
The trial court had sentenced Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha to 17 years’ imprisonment each.
Case history
Human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, were convicted by a district and sessions court in Islamabad in a case relating to controversial social media posts and sentenced to 17 years in prison.
The case centers on allegedly controversial posts and reposts on X, formerly Twitter, that authorities 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 division and portray a negative image of state institutions.
Much earlier in the proceedings, the trial court issued non-bailable arrest warrants after the defendant failed to appear, sparking criticism and legal challenges from the defense. Mazari and Chattha then approached the Islamabad High Court, alleging a lack of transparency and procedural irregularities, including recording of evidence in their absence and without proper legal representation.
Their request to transfer the case was heard by the High Court, which refused to grant an immediate stay. The couple then approached the Supreme Court, which ordered a temporary halt to the trial until the High Court completed its hearing.
The IHCBA and the Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) issued separate statements condemning the arrest of the lawyer couple. The IBA, in a meeting, called the arrest “illegal and unconstitutional” and urged authorities to immediately release them on January 23.
