Iman Mazari, a man, is released from prison after ATC approves bail

ISLAMABAD: Authorities have released prominent human rights lawyer Iman Mazari and her husband, lawyer Haadi Ali Chatu, from jail after the couple secured bail from the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in a “security breach” case.

ATC judge Tahir Abbas granted bail on a bail bond of Rs 20,000 after the IHC quashed the three-day remand imposed by the ATC on Tuesday.

He also ordered the duo to be remanded in custody for 14 days.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz heard pleas against the couple’s physical imprisonment, while lawyers Kayser Imam and Zainab Janjua represented Mazari and Chata in court.

During the consideration of the case, the prosecutor announced a request for a preventive measure, and also read the court’s decision. The IHC CJ then asked the prosecutor if that was appropriate, to which the lawyer replied in the affirmative.

After that, a panel of two members in a short time declared the preliminary preventive measure invalid and decided to send the accused to prison in the court.

The duo — Mazari and her husband — were arrested in the federal capital on Monday after they tried to remove road blocks set up for the England team’s traffic protocol last week.

The FIR registered against them includes sections 186 (obstructing public servants in the discharge of public functions), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (every person participating in an unlawful assembly is guilty of an offense committed in furtherance of a common object) and 353 (assault or criminal force to prevent a public servant from discharging his duties) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) together with section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

Besides, the FIR registered on the complaint of Deputy Inspector Tanveer Athar also included sections 506(ii) PPC (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 120B (punishment for criminal conspiracy).

It said that a travel route had been set up for the international teams, who have state guest status to protect them from any terrorist attacks, to Faisal Avenue when Iman removed barriers and provoked people there.

The suspect, it added, called for the barrier to be removed and started shouting when another lawyer — her husband Hadi — also arrived at the scene and started threatening the police.

According to the FIR, Iman’s husband insulted and slapped the police officer.