On the other hand, IHC issues notices in appeal against sentences in controversial tweet cases
Lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, defender Hadi Ali Chattha. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Wednesday granted bail to human rights defender Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chatha in a case involving a clash with police.
Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain ruled in favor of the accused and granted post-arrest bail with sureties of Rs 10,000 each. The case, registered at the Secretariat Police Station, involves accusations of police altercation and public protest.
Read: Court cancels bail of Imaan Mazari, husband in social media posts case
Representing the accused, state advocate Ali Azad submitted that the charges were baseless and the FIR was lodged based on fabricated and non-existent facts. After hearing the arguments of both parties, the court ruled 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 sentences in the controversial tweets case. The court also issued notices in response to their requests for suspension of sentences, seeking responses from the authorities concerned.
During the hearing, a representative of the petitioners, advocate 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. Advocates Siddiqui, Zainab Janjua and others represented Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha. Siddiqui claimed that the application for transfer of the case was still pending when the trial court delivered its verdict. He also noted that the statements of two witnesses were recorded in the absence of the accused.
Siddiqui further mentioned that when the verdict was delivered, the trial judge had deleted a paragraph.
Read more: Imaan Mazari alleges ill-treatment as court hears tweet case via video link
“If you want to impose a sentence, impose it ten times, but at least do the trial,” he said. Justice Asif replied that notices were being issued and paper books would arrive soon. Siddiqui requested that the court schedule the suspension hearing for a day when he could be present as he is traveling 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 Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), seeking a response. The court then adjourned further hearing of the case.
The trial court sentenced Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha to 17 years in prison each.
Case history
Human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, were found guilty by an Islamabad district and sessions court in a case over controversial social media posts and sentenced to 17 years in prison.
The case centers on alleged controversial posts and reposts on X, formerly Twitter, which authorities have 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 aimed at inciting divisions and negatively portraying state institutions.
Much earlier in the process, the trial court issued no-bail warrants after the defendants failed to appear, drawing criticism and legal challenges from the defense. Mazari and Chattha subsequently approached the Islamabad High Court, alleging lack of transparency and procedural irregularities, including the collection of evidence in their absence and without adequate legal representation.
His request for transfer of the case was heard by the high court, which refused to grant an immediate stay. The couple then went to the Supreme Court, which ordered a temporary stay of the trial until the high court completes its hearing.
Both the IHCBA and the Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) issued separate statements condemning the arrest of the lawyer couple. The IBA, in a meeting, called it an “illegal and unconstitutional” arrest and urged authorities to release the two immediately on January 23.
