ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday granted a two-day protective bail to Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, preventing their immediate arrest and directing them to approach the concerned court within this period.
Justice Azam Khan, hearing their plea, ordered both Mazari and Chattha to furnish surety bonds of Rs10,000 each.
The bail comes amid allegations that the staff members of the legal branch allegedly leaked an FIR registered against Imaan and her husband Chatha.
Following the emergence of a new FIR, the legal branch of the District and Sessions Courts in Islamabad was temporarily sealed.
The sources said the staff of the legal branch was accused of leaking the FIR after which the senior police officials to lock the branch.
The original FIR against Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha was filed in July. They had not sought bail at that time and had been present in the High Court since Monday, seeking protective bail.
On Tuesday, the local journalists reported that the police cordoned off the Islamabad High Court where both Imaan and Hadi had come. According to the reports, the couple went to the bar office to avoid arrest.
However, the court granted them protective bail.
Islamabad court orders arrest, presentation of Imaan Mazari, her husband
The court had earlier expressed strong displeasure over the failure to present Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chatha, directing authorities to arrest and present them within 24 hours, regardless of their location.
During the hearing of a controversial tweets case at the District and Sessions Court, Judge Afzal Majoka expressed his frustration after Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha failed to appear in court. The court instructed the Islamabad police to ensure their arrest and presentation within 24 hours, regardless of whether they are at sea, in the air, or abroad.
In a conversation with DIG Jawad Tariq, the judge inquired, “A warrant was issued, why hasn’t it been executed? What does it prove that the warrant hasn’t been enforced in Islamabad? Whether they are in Pakistan, India, or Afghanistan, you have 24 hours to execute the warrant. I want compliance, whether they are at sea or in the sky. I will see how they are not presented. I need the warrants executed within 24 hours.”
The DIG assured the court that the warrants would be enforced. The court then adjourned the hearing, stating that failure to implement the warrants would lead to contempt of court proceedings.
At the start of the hearing, the court had summoned the DIG and the Director of the FIA for failing to arrest and present Imaan Mazari and her husband. The NCCIA prosecutor appeared before the court, but Advocate Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha were absent.
Judge Afzal Majoka questioned the police’s failure to carry out the orders for the arrest and presentation of the accused. He expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s handling of the situation, asking why the arrest and appearance orders had not been followed.
The court took strong notice of the situation and ordered the DIG Operations and the FIA Director to appear in person. Judge Majoka specifically directed that they be present by 10am. The court then adjourned the hearing.
