Pakistan’s Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Friday granted bail to Iman Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha in two cases, but both are still in jail as their 10-year sentences in the social media posts case remain intact.
ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain granted bail in each case on surety bonds of Rs 5,000 after hearing the arguments of the parties.
The first case related to an alleged scuffle outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC). In this case, the complainant and Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Wajid Gilani submitted an affidavit stating that he had no quarrel with Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha and that he had no objection if the court wanted to grant relief.
The court granted bail after the completion of arguments.
The second case related to a protest outside the National Press Club in favor of missing persons. The accused’s lawyer took the stand that no illegal action was taken and the FIR is baseless. Despite the opposition of the prosecution, the court granted bail after hearing the arguments of both the parties.
Despite getting relief in both the cases, the release of Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha is subject to suspension of the 10-year sentence awarded in the social media posts case. Appeals against the sentence and applications for suspension are pending in the Islamabad High Court.
During the hearing, Justice Muhammad Asif heard the arguments of the lawyers. Lawyer Riyasat Ali Azad requested the court to fix a date for the application for suspension of sentence before Eid. He said that he did not want a final decision on the appeal but only wanted an early hearing on the application for suspension of sentence.
The court remarked that cases are fixed as per the policy and a new date can be given only after the already pending cases are disposed of. The court did not immediately fix a date for the hearing.
The release depends on the decision of the High Court. Thus, despite being granted bail by the ATC in two cases, the release of Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha is now subject to the decision of the Islamabad High Court on the applications for suspension of sentence in the social media posts case.
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