Rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, were taken into custody by police in Islamabad on Friday. Their arrest is connected to a case involving an altercation outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Details of the Arrest
The couple was apprehended while traveling in a van belonging to the IHC Bar, en route to the district and sessions court from the bar office. Police confiscated their mobile phones and transferred them to the women’s police station.
Sources confirm that the arrest stems from an altercation case registered following a heated exchange outside the IHC. An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad had rejected their bail applications on Thursday due to their absence during the hearing.
Background of the Case
The case originated from a complaint filed by IHC Bar President Wajid Ali Gilani concerning the verbal dispute during a protest outside the bar office. Both Mazari and Chattha had previously submitted pre-arrest bail applications.
Reactions and Related Legal Proceedings
The IHC Bar has called for a strike to protest what it terms the “illegal” arrest of the couple. Additionally, Mazari and Chattha were summoned by Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka in a separate case involving controversial tweets.
This case, registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), involves allegations that the couple attempted to incite linguistic divisions through social media posts. They were indicted on October 30 under several sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016.
Judge Majoka had issued arrest warrants earlier this month due to their repeated failure to appear, though the Islamabad High Court restored their bail and right of defense, suspending the prior order.
Ongoing Legal Developments
Last month, Mazari and Chattha filed an application in the Islamabad High Court expressing mistrust in Judge Majoka and requested the transfer of the tweets case to another court. The situation remains fluid as further updates are awaited.
