ISLAMABAD – A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Thursday cancelled the bail of lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, in a high-profile controversial tweet case. The court ordered their arrest and production before the bench.
Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka also terminated the couple’s right to cross-examination. Statements under Section 342 of the law are scheduled to be recorded on Friday.
Mazari and Chattha were registered in a case by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under Sections 9, 10, 11, and 26 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016. They were indicted on October 30 following the registration of the complaint.
During Thursday’s hearing, Imaan failed to appear before the court. Her defense counsel requested an exemption on medical grounds. The judge expressed strong displeasure over her absence and noted that her application would be addressed later.
The court warned that failure to appear would result in the forfeiture of the right to cross-examine witnesses. Both Imaan and Hadi Ali Chattha did not attend the proceedings even after the temporary adjournment. The defense stated that Imaan wanted to personally cross-examine witness Shehroz during the next hearing.
President of Islamabad District Bar Association, Advocate Chaudhry Naeem Gujjar, appeared in court and requested the next hearing be scheduled for Monday, assuring that no further adjournments would be sought. The prosecution opposed this request, insisting that the cross-examination begin immediately.
This led to a verbal confrontation in court between Bar President Naeem Gujjar and Prosecutor Rana Usman. The situation escalated, prompting the judge to leave the bench for his chamber.
Legal observers noted that the cancellation of bail in such high-profile cases signals strict enforcement of PECA regulations. The next hearing is expected to be closely monitored by both legal circles and the public, as the case continues to attract national attention.
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The court’s decision to revoke bail underscores the seriousness of the allegations and emphasizes accountability under Pakistan’s cybercrime laws.
