Imaan Mazari, husband Hadi Ali Chattha arrested in Islamabad

According to sources, the couple was taken into custody from a van of the IHC Bar Association while they were travelling from the bar office to the district and sessions court in Islamabad. Police also confiscated their mobile phones and shifted them to the women’s police station. Officials said the arrest was made in relation to an altercation that took place outside the IHC.

An anti terrorism court in the federal capital had dismissed the bail applications of Mazari and Chattha on Thursday due to their absence from the hearing. The case was registered on the complaint of Wajid Ali Gilani, president of the IHC Bar, following a heated exchange of words during a protest outside the bar office. Both Mazari and Chattha had earlier filed pre arrest bail applications in the matter.

Following the arrests, the IHC Bar Association announced a strike, terming the detention of the couple illegal and calling on lawyers to protest the move.

Separately, Mazari and Chattha were also scheduled to appear on Friday before Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka in a controversial tweets case. The judge had directed them to appear at 8:30am after they repeatedly failed to attend previous hearings.

The couple is facing charges in a case registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency under Sections 9, 10, 11 and 26 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. They were indicted in the case on October 30. The FIR alleges that the couple attempted to incite divisions on linguistic grounds through social media posts.

Earlier this month, Judge Majoka had issued arrest warrants for Mazari and Chattha due to their continued non appearance. However, their bail was restored earlier this week by the Islamabad High Court. Justice Muhammad Azam Khan also restored their right of defence and suspended the trial court’s order, citing their failure to appear before the court.

Last month, Mazari and Chattha moved the Islamabad High Court, expressing a lack of confidence in Judge Majoka and requesting that the controversial tweets case be transferred to another court.