On Thursday, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad granted bail to Imaan Zainab Mazari, a prominent lawyer and human rights activist, and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha. They faced charges of interfering with government operations.
Earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had placed the couple on judicial remand in a “security breach” case. ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra heard their bail plea. Despite the prosecutor, Raja Naveed, opposing the request, the court approved bail, requiring the couple to submit surety bonds of Rs20,000.
The IHC reviewed a petition challenging the couple’s physical remand, with Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz overseeing the case. During the hearing, the chief justice questioned the prosecutor about the remand order’s adherence to Lahore High Court guidelines.
The defence argued that the status of the remand order was unclear after suspension. Consequently, the chief justice issued a brief order sending the couple to jail on judicial remand.
Islamabad’s Aabpara police arrested Mazari and Chattha on October 28 after a heated argument with traffic police at Zero Point Interchange. Viral videos showed them removing roadblocks set up for the England cricket team and arguing with police officers at the scene.
