Imaan Mazari, Hadi Ali Chattha granted bail in protest and police altercation case

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Tuesday granted bail to lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in a case accusing them of blocking a road outside the National Press Club and clashing with police.

What did the court decide on Imaan Mazari’s bail?

Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain accepted the bail applications of Mazari and Chattha against surety bonds of Rs5,000 each. Police produced the case record during the hearing.

Before announcing the decision, the judge asked the couple whether they wished to say anything.

What happened over the police case record?

Defense counsel Riasat Ali Azad told the judge that the record had been received only that day. The judge remarked that he would have shown the police the consequences had they failed to produce it on Tuesday.

He added that he would examine the show-cause notice issued to them over the delay.

What sentences did the couple receive last week?

The bail comes after another ATC sentenced Mazari and Chattha to 10 years in prison each in a security breach case. The same court imposed one-year sentences and Rs50,000 fines under Section 186 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which covers obstructing a public servant in the discharge of public functions.

It also gave them two-year terms each under Section 353, which covers assault or criminal force used to deter a public servant from performing his duty.

What other cases have Mazari and Chattha faced?

The couple has faced a series of cases. They were arrested on Jan 23 over a protest outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC), during which they allegedly manhandled the president of the IHC Bar Association. Rights bodies, politicians and journalists criticized the arrest, stressing the couple’s right to a fair trial.

A day later, a sessions court sentenced them to 17 years on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act in a case over social media posts. Lawyers and United Nations experts widely condemned the convictions.

On Sept 17, after months of litigation, the Supreme Court suspended their sentences in that case. It ordered their release until the IHC issues its final verdict on their appeals against the trial court’s decision.