An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad grants post-arrest bail to Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha
A courtroom in Islamabad just granted bail to Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in the case connected to their run-in with the police. Even so, the couple isn’t walking free yet—they’re still in jail because of a separate conviction.
The whole thing started with an incident outside the Islamabad High Court. Police accused Mazari and Chattha of scuffling with officers, and the Secretariat Police Station registered an FIR against them. That arrest happened last month, and since then, the case has stayed in the headlines.
Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain heard the bail applications in the anti-terrorism court. After listening to both sides, he granted bail to Mazari and Chattha—each had to post a surety bond of Rs10,000.
Their lawyer, Riasat Ali Azad, didn’t hold back. He called the case groundless and claimed the FIR was based on a made-up incident. According to him, even the people named in the report didn’t know about it until after the fact. The defense said there was no real evidence and insisted the entire case came out of nowhere. After mulling over the arguments, the court reserved its decision for a bit, then came back and granted bail.
But even with this win, Mazari and Chattha aren’t out of legal trouble. They’ll stay locked up for now because they’re also serving a sentence from another case—a controversial tweets conviction handed down by a district and sessions court last month. That case has people talking, too, and it’s added more layers to their already complicated situation.
News of Imaan Mazari’s bail has set off another wave of discussion, especially on social media. Supporters see the court’s move as a small victory for justice, while critics are still questioning the circumstances and the legal process. Mazari’s known for her activism and outspokenness. She’s been in the spotlight before, often at the crossroads of free speech and law enforcement in Pakistan.
This bail decision shows that even in serious cases, people have the right to seek relief through the courts. Still, the fact that Mazari and Chattha remain in jail highlights how tangled legal battles can get when cases overlap.
Bottom line: the story isn’t over. With more proceedings underway, the next few weeks could bring even more twists. For now, though, Mazari and Chattha’s bail is a major moment in a legal saga that’s not leaving the public eye anytime soon.
