ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted one-day protective bail to human rights lawyer and activist Advocate Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, barring their arrest until Tuesday and directing them to appear before the court, providing temporary relief in the controversial social media posts case.
Justice Azam Khan heard the petition filed by Mazari and Chattha challenging the trial court’s decision to issue non-bailable arrest warrants against them. The court approved protective bail for one day, restrained law enforcement authorities from arresting the couple till Tuesday and adjourned the hearing, ordering both petitioners to ensure their appearance before the high court.
During the proceedings, counsel for the petitioners, Kamran Murtaza, informed the court that the couple’s bail had been cancelled twice and arrest warrants had already been issued. He argued that the trial court was conducting proceedings with unusual haste, saying the case was being taken up repeatedly within short intervals. “Even if there is any grievance against a lawyer, a judge should exercise restraint,” he submitted.
Murtaza also drew the court’s attention to Mazari’s health, stating that she was unwell and highlighting that she was a woman accused. Stressing the need for judicial prudence, he said, “After Allah Almighty, judges hold an important position,” and urged the court to grant relief to prevent irreparable harm.
Separately, proceedings continued before Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka, who issued directions in line with the IHC’s order. The prosecutor informed the trial court that the accused had obtained protective bail from the Islamabad High Court and had been directed to appear there on Tuesday.
Judge Majoka ordered that Mazari and Chattha must appear before the trial court within one hour of their appearance before the IHC. He directed that the accused would present themselves before his court, where their statements under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code would be recorded. The trial court subsequently adjourned the proceedings until Tuesday.
The development follows the reissuance of non-bailable arrest warrants against Mazari and Chattha by the additional district and sessions court on Saturday. At the time, the trial judge had observed that the couple’s bail had already been cancelled and that arrest orders had not been executed, advising the defence to seek relief from the Islamabad High Court as he lacked the authority to reverse the bail cancellation.
Earlier, the couple had surrendered before the trial court and sought suspension of the arrest order, along with permission to appear via video link. However, the court maintained that such relief could only be granted by the high court.
The case against Mazari and Chattha pertains to allegedly controversial posts and reposts on X, formerly Twitter, which authorities have described as “anti-state.” The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) registered the case under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, alleging that the content was intended to incite divisions and portray state institutions negatively.
The trial court had previously issued non-bailable warrants after the accused failed to appear, triggering legal challenges over transparency, the recording of evidence in the absence of the accused and alleged procedural irregularities. The couple subsequently approached the Islamabad High Court and later the Supreme Court, which had temporarily halted the trial pending the high court’s review.
Monday’s order by the IHC offers short-term relief to Mazari and Chattha, while the broader legal battle over the validity of the warrants, bail cancellation and trial proceedings is set to continue in the coming days.
