- Justice Attique Shah directs both to appear before Islamabad court by Oct 9
- Rights activist and spouse among other PTI-linked lawyers booked under anti-terror laws following a protest IHC premises
- Mazari recently filed harassment complaint, misconduct reference against IHC Chief Justice
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday granted transit bail to rights activist Advocate Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her spouse Hadi Ali Chattha, three days after they were booked in Islamabad following a clash with the president of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA).
The police had registered a case against Imaan Mazari, her spouse, Zainab Janjua and several PTI-linked lawyers, including Naeem Panjhuta and Fateullah Barki, under anti-terror laws after the IHCBA alleged that the bar leadership was “assaulted” by the lawyers and the suspects had also raised slogans against state institutions.
The protest had been staged on the premises of the Islamabad High Court to oppose the suspension of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri from judicial work.
Proceedings in high court
The bail petition came before PHC Judge Justice Syed Mohammad Attique Shah, who granted protective bail to Mazari and her spouse until October 9, directing them to appear before the relevant court in Islamabad.
Mazari and Chattha appeared in court with their lawyers Ataullah Kundi, Jahanzeb Mehsud, and Tariq Afghan, while Additional Attorney General Sanaullah represented the IHCBA.
During proceedings, Justice Shah asked if both petitioners were lawyers, to which Advocate Kundi confirmed: “Yes, both of them are lawyers and would like to appear in court.”
Addressing Mazari, the judge remarked with a smile: “At least you came to Peshawar on the pretext of the FIR. You people never come to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa anyway.”
Advocate Kundi, however, argued that Mazari was “the voice of the people of KP and Balochistan” and worked as a social activist in Islamabad.
Ongoing legal battles
Mazari, known for her vocal criticism of state institutions, has also recently moved complaints against IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar, approaching both the IHC’s workplace harassment committee and the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). She alleged “sexist remarks” were made against her during a courtroom altercation earlier this month.
She and her husband are also facing separate charges relating to alleged anti-state activities on social media.
