The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted protective bail to lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in a case related to social media posts. The couple is facing charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.
The charges claim that Mazari and Chattha shared content that allegedly promoted linguistic divisions and accused the armed forces of involvement in terrorism. Justice Azam Khan stayed their arrest until Tuesday, after the couple challenged the trial court’s orders. Their lawyers argued that their right to defence had been compromised and that arrest warrants were issued without completing legal procedures.
Their counsel, Kamran Murtaza, informed the court that the couple’s bail had been cancelled twice. Fresh arrest orders were also issued despite Mazari being unwell. Murtaza urged the court to exercise leniency, highlighting the couple’s legal and health concerns.
Earlier, Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka directed authorities to secure search warrants to ensure the accused’s arrest. He expressed concern over delays in the proceedings. After being informed of the IHC’s bail decision, the judge adjourned the case until Tuesday and ordered that Mazari and Chattha be presented before the sessions court within one hour of their appearance at the IHC.
The case stems from a complaint filed on August 12, 2025. It alleged that Mazari posted content linked to banned organizations, while Chattha reportedly reshared some of the material. The FIR accused them of blaming the security forces for missing persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, portraying the military as ineffective against militant groups. The couple was formally indicted in October last year.
The IHC’s decision to grant bail temporarily protects Mazari and Chattha from arrest while allowing them time to present their defence. Observers say the case has sparked public debate over freedom of expression and legal processes under the PECA law.
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The court will hear further arguments when the couple appears before the sessions court on Tuesday, and the outcome could set important precedents for similar cases involving social media content.
