Islamabad ATC grants bail to Imaan Mazari, Hadi Ali Chattha in road blockade, police clash case - The Express Tribune
An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday granted bail to lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha in a case involving allegations of blocking a road and clashing with police.
ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain heard the bail applications and approved them against surety bonds of Rs5,000 each, with lawyer Riasat Ali Azad appearing on behalf of the accused.
During the hearing, police submitted the case record to the court. The judge then asked the parties whether they wished to make any further submissions before announcing his decision. Referring to the show-cause notice matter involving the police, the judge said, "I will look into the matter concerning the show-cause notice to the police."
The court subsequently approved the bail applications of both Imaan and Chattha.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered at Islamabad's Kohsar Police Station, which was filed last year and concerned a protest in the grounds of the Islamabad Press Club, Imaan and Hadi led a Baloch Student Council protest with at least 150 demonstrators present. The FIR added that the participants raised anti-state slogans and those against state institutions through loudspeakers and megaphones, while also obstructing police from carrying out their duties.
Filed under Sections 186, 188, 341, 353, and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), the FIR stated that the participants took a rally out and blocked a road, upon which police informed them that this was against Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Tuesday's verdict came less than a week after an ATC sentenced Imaan and Hadi to 10 years in prison each in a case involving the removal of security barriers. Both were convicted under Section 186 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and sentenced to “1-year Simple Imprisonment” with a fine of Rs50,000 each, the order stated.
The court also convicted both under Section 353 of the PPC and sentenced them to “2 years' simple imprisonment with a fine of Rs50,000 each," while in case of non-payment, they would undergo an additional three months' simple imprisonment.
The court also convicted both under Section 7(h) of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, as defined under Section 6(2)(m). Under this provision, Imaan and Haadi were also sentenced to “ten years (RI) with a fine of Rs 100,000 each."
The couple was arrested by the capital police in October 2024 on terrorism charges after a confrontation with traffic police, who had barricaded the area to secure the movement of the English cricket team. They were accused of interfering with government protocol, leading to their detention under various sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Pakistan Penal Code.
In January, the couple was handed a combined 17-year sentence on multiple charges linked to controversial social media posts that the prosecution argued amounted to an anti-state narrative under cybercrime laws. The same month, they filed applications for suspension of their sentences.
Later, Imaan and her husband Hadi were rearrested on September 17, shortly after the Supreme Court granted them bail and suspended their sentences in the social-media posts case. They were produced before an Islamabad ATC in connection with a case registered at Kohsar Police Station.
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