ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted two-day protective bail to lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha in a case registered under terrorism and attempted murder charges.
A single bench of Justice Muhammad Azam Khan on Wednesday granted bail to Mazari and Chattha against surety bonds worth of Rs 10,000 and directed them to appear before the relevant court within two days.
During the hearing Kamran Murtaza, representing the duo, argued that first time in the country’s judicial history a woman had to spend night on court premises — a reference to Mazari and Chattha’s stay at the IHCBA president’s office last night. He added that he personally felt responsible for what happened.
He mentioned that there is an old FIR of the July 27 incident after which Mazari has in fact appeared in courts on multiple occasions and if the prosecution wanted to arrest Mazari, then they should have done so before.
Kamran stressed that the FIR alleged a firing incident, whereas the suspect has not even touched a pistol.
He also said that they are not enemies of the country and as much as you have the right, he also has the right to be in this building.
The counsel requested the court to grant protective bail in the said case, along with other cases that he has not aware of. However, the court only granted protective bail to Mazari and Chattha in the said case.
Both husband and wife on Tuesday filed pre-arrest bail applications in the case. However, their bail pleas could not be taken up on an urgent basis on Tuesday while the couple struggled to avoid arrest.
They took refuge in the IHCBA president’s office, where they spent the whole night, while a large number of police officials remained outside the premises.
The case is related to a first information report (FIR) registered at the Kohsar Police Station on October 27, 2025 in the federal capital relating to the Balock Yakjehti Committee’s (BYC) protest at the National Press Club (NPC).
The FIR contained anti-terror provisions, Section 8 of the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024 along with Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) sections 440 (mischief committed after preparation made causing death or hurt); 395 (punishment for dacoity); 324 (attempt to commit qatl-i-amd); 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint); 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant); 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions); 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty); and 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon).
The FIR alleged that Mazari, armed with a stick, attacked lady police constables and injured them, snatching their riot shields and vandalising public vehicles.
Chattha, as per the FIR, allegedly armed with a pistol opened fire at a constable with the intention to kill him — which missed him — and further hurled death threats while waiving his pistol.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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