Islamabad, Nov 3 A Pakistan court on Tuesday granted bail to a human rights lawyer couple in a case of breaching security protocol during the visit of England cricket team in 2024.
Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, were convicted on October 29 by a judge of anti-terrorism court, Tahir Abbas Sipra, who announced the verdict at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where the trial was conducted.
The couple was accused of obstructing official duties and assaulting police personnel by removing barriers placed at Islamabad’s Zero Point during the Rawalpindi Test match between England and Pakistan cricket team on October 25, 2024.
The case was registered at Islamabad’s Kohsar police station on March 22 last year on the complaint of City Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Chandio.
The two were indicted on October 7 this year, when a formal trial commenced. Both had pleaded not guilty and, in their statements, had denied the charges and alleged that they were being targeted for their human rights work.
Anti-terrorism court (ATC) Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain announced the decision of bail after hearing the bail applications.
The court granted bail to both accused against surety bonds of PKR 5,000 each.
The judge also said he would examine the matter regarding the show-cause notice issued to the police over the delay in producing the case record.
The couple has been in jail since their arrest on January 23 in a case registered against them for protesting outside the Islamabad High Court.
They were sentenced to 17 years in jail but the Supreme Court on September 17 had suspended their sentences in the case. However, they were arrested again in connection with the security breach case.
(PTI News)
