ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, have secured bail in a separate case linked to an alleged confrontation with police in Islamabad.
The relief was granted by Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain, who accepted their bail applications against surety bonds of Rs5,000 each.
Police presented the case record during Tuesday's proceedings. The case was registered at Kohsar Police Station, accusing the couple of obstructing officials in the performance of their duties.
The latest development comes amid several ongoing legal proceedings against the couple. Just a week earlier, they had received prison sentences in a separate case concerning an alleged security breach during the visit of an international cricket team to Pakistan in October 2024.
Registered at Aabpara Police Station, that case involved allegations that the lawyers had interfered in state affairs and created a security risk during the team's visit. They were sentenced under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, with fines of Rs100,000 also imposed.
The court's order specified a two-year prison term and a Rs50,000 fine under Section 353, while Section 186 provided for another year in prison and an additional Rs50,000 fine. The court also extended the benefit of Section 382 to the defendants.
Mazari and Chattha were formally indicted in the case on October 7, which had been registered on October 25, 2024.
Previous arrests and convictions
The couple has remained in custody since January 23, when they were arrested in connection with a protest outside the Islamabad High Court.
The following day, a sessions court handed them a combined 17-year prison sentence on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), relating to controversial social media posts.
Their legal situation changed on September 17, when the Supreme Court suspended their sentences in the case involving controversial tweets. The apex court granted them bail against surety bonds of Rs200,000 each while the matter remained pending before the Islamabad High Court.
However, they were taken into custody again by Islamabad police just hours after securing the relief. Police subsequently presented them before an Anti-Terrorism Court in another case.
The FIR in that matter accused Mazari and Chattha of raising anti-government slogans and blocking roads during a protest.