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IHC Restores Bail of Imaan Mazari, Husband in Social Media Case
Islamabad High Court reinstates bail of lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha, suspending arrest warrants in PECA social media posts case.
ND
by News Desk
2026-01-20
IHC Restores Bail of Imaan Mazari, Husband in Social Media Case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday reinstated the bail of lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha in a controversial social media posts case after it had been cancelled by a sessions court earlier this month.

The case, registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, accuses the couple of inciting divisions on linguistic grounds through social media content and creating an impression that the armed forces were involved in terrorism within the country.

Their bail had been cancelled on January 15 by Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka, prompting the issuance of arrest warrants. Subsequently, on January 17, Mazari and Chattha approached the IHC, challenging the arrest orders and arguing that the trial court had unlawfully curtailed their right of defence.

During Tuesday’s hearing, the IHC judge reinstated their earlier bail, suspending the arrest warrants and restoring the couple’s right to defence. The court also directed that cross-examination in the case be completed within three days.

Counsel for the accused, Kamran Murtaza, requested additional time, seeking a one-week period to complete the cross-examination. “I will look into it. You should proceed with the trial,” the judge remarked.

A day earlier, IHC Justice Azam Khan had granted Mazari and Chattha one-day protective bail, directing them to appear before the court on Tuesday. During that hearing, Murtaza informed the court that the couple’s bail had been cancelled twice and arrest orders had been issued.

He argued that the trial court had acted hastily, stating that hearings were being conducted “every 15 minutes” and urged the judge to exercise patience.

Earlier on Monday, Judge Majoka had expressed displeasure over the failure to arrest the accused and directed officials of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to obtain search warrants for their residence and present them before the court by 11am.

However, following the IHC’s intervention, the sessions court proceedings were adjourned. Judge Majoka directed that the accused be presented before the sessions court within one hour of their appearance at the IHC.
Tagged:

FreedomOfExpression

IslamabadHighCourt

PECA

ImaanMazari
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