ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Islamabad High Court on Friday granted one-day protective bail to lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha, restraining authorities from arresting them till tomorrow.
The order was passed by Justice Azam Khan, before whom senior lawyer Kamran Murtaza appeared on behalf of the petitioners. The court directed that both accused should not be taken into custody until the next hearing.
Earlier, an Islamabad district court had cancelled the bail of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha in a case related to controversial social media posts, citing repeated non-appearance and disorderly conduct during court proceedings.
The case was registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, alleging that the accused promoted linguistic divisions through social media and portrayed the armed forces as being involved in terrorism.
The hearing was conducted by Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka, with Prosecutor Rana Usman representing the state. At the start of the hearing, neither of the accused appeared before the court. An assistant counsel sought exemption, stating that Mazari was unavailable while Chattha was engaged in a contempt-related matter before the high court.
The court expressed dissatisfaction over their absence and warned that continued non-appearance could result in the cancellation of their right to cross-examine prosecution witnesses.
Later, Islamabad District Bar Association President Chaudhry Naeem Gujjar requested an adjournment until Monday, assuring the court that no further delays would be sought. He said Mazari was unwell but intended to conduct the cross-examination herself.
The prosecution opposed the request, insisting that the witness be examined immediately. A heated exchange between the prosecutor and the bar association president led to chaos in the courtroom, prompting the judge to temporarily leave the bench.
When proceedings resumed, neither Mazari nor Chattha appeared again. In view of the situation, the court cancelled their bail, ordered their arrest and production, revoked their right to cross-examine witnesses, and directed that their statements be recorded under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
