ATC Grants Bail to Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha in Road Blockade Case

ISLAMABAD : The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Islamabad has granted bail to prominent human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha in a case registered over blocking a road and scuffling with police.

The court approved bail against surety bonds of Rs. 5,000 each.

*What happened in court today?*

The case was heard by ATC Judge Abul Hasanat Muhammad Zulqarnain.

The police presented the case record before the court. Counsel Riasat Ali Azad told the court, “Sir, the record has been received today.”

The judge made stern remarks, saying, *”If the record had not been presented even today, I would have shown them.”* The judge then said, “Do you have anything to say? Let it be, bail is granted.”

The judge further said that he would himself look into the matter of the show-cause notice issued to the police.

It may be recalled that on November 1, the court had summoned the IG Islamabad and issued show-cause notices to the SP and DSP over repeated absence of the IO and failure to produce the record. Today, after the record was presented, the court approved the bail pleas.

*Which case is this and what is the background?*

This bail is granted in the recent case related to protest, road blockade and interference in official duties. However, Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha have been facing three major cases over the last two years:

*1. Barrier Removal Case – 10 Years Sentence (Incident of October 25, 2024):*
This case was registered at Aabpara Police Station on October 25, 2024, when security barriers were placed near Faisal Avenue, Zero Point, for the movement of the England cricket team. The police alleged that Imaan and Hadi removed the barriers and assaulted Constable Ibrahim Khan.

In this case, *on October 29, 2026, ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra announced the verdict at Adiala Jail and sentenced both to 10 years imprisonment each.* The court awarded 10 years under Section 7(h) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2 years under Section 353 PPC, and 1 year under Section 186 PPC, with a fine of Rs. 200,000. All sentences will run concurrently. In their statements under Section 342, both denied the charges, alleging that they were tried while kept in a cage and that a police official threw a barrier at Imaan, causing her to fall.

*2. Social Media / PECA Case – 17 Years Sentence:*
Both were arrested on January 23, 2026, over alleged anti-state posts on social media. The very next day, on January 24, Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka sentenced both to *17 years imprisonment each and a fine of Rs. 36 million each* under PECA.

*On September 17, 2026, the Supreme Court suspended this sentence and ordered their release on bail.*

*3. Re-arrest and Current Case:*
Just hours after the Supreme Court’s release order, police re-arrested both inside Adiala Jail in another case. This case was registered on March 22, 2025, at Kohsar Police Station over allegations of protest, road blockade and sloganeering. Later, the anti-terrorism section was added.

Today’s bail has been granted in this same case.

*What happens next?*

Although bail has been granted today, Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha will remain in Adiala Jail because after the 10-year sentence in the barrier case on October 29, they are now convicted prisoners in that case. Their family has announced to approach the Supreme Court against the conviction, while their appeal in the PECA case remains pending before the Islamabad High Court.