The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday restored the bail of lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha in a high-profile case related to controversial social media posts, after a sessions court had cancelled their bail earlier this month, Dawn reported.
The couple are accused under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA) of posting content criticising state institutions.
IHC Justice Azam Khan heard the petition filed by Mazari and Chattha challenging the trial court’s decision, arguing that the cancellation of their bail and the issuance of arrest warrants violated their legal right to defence and were made without fulfilling required legal procedures.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the high court suspended the arrest warrants previously issued by the sessions court and reinstated the couple’s bail. The judge also directed the trial court to complete the defence’s cross-examination within three days and restored their right to participate fully in their defence.
The couple’s lawyer, Kamran Murtaza, requested a one-week extension for proceedings, but the judge advised that the trial continue without delay.
The case has seen rapid developments: on Monday, the IHC had granted the pair one-day protective bail to prevent their immediate arrest and ordered them to appear before the court, after their ongoing bail had been cancelled multiple times.
