ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Tuesday granted bail to human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in a case registered against them for allegedly blocking a road outside the National Press Club and engaging in an altercation with police.
ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain announced the decision after hearing the bail applications. The police also produced the case record before the court during the proceedings.
When defence counsel Riasat Ali Azad informed the court that the record had been received that day, the judge remarked that he would have shown the police the consequences of failing to produce it on Tuesday. The judge then asked the applicants if they had anything to say before announcing that their bail applications had been accepted.
The court granted bail to both accused against surety bonds of Rs5,000 each.
Last week, an ATC sentenced Imaan and Hadi to 10 years in prison each in the security breach case.
The court also handed down one-year sentences and imposed fines of Rs50,000 each under Section 186 of the Pakistan Penal Code. They were also sentenced to two years each under Section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty) of the PPC. The couple has been in jail since Jan 23 in a case registered against them for protesting outside the Islamabad High Court and allegedly manhandling the IHC Bar Association president. The arrest prompted criticism by human rights organisations, politicians and journalists, who stressed the couple’s right to a fair trial.
Just a day later, a sessions court sentenced them to 17 years on multiple charges.
On Sept 17, following months of litigation before courts, the SC suspended their sentences in the case and ordered their release, but the reprieve was short-lived as hours later, Islamabad police arrested the couple again in connection with the security breach case.
Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2026
