ISLAMABAD, Sep 02: Human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari, who was arrested in a case pertaining to financing anti-state activities, was granted post-arrest bail by an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Saturday.
In today’s hearing, Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain approved the bail plea on a surety bond of Rs10,000, which was initially set at Rs20,0000. Imaan’s mother, Shireen Mazari and lawyers Zainab Janjua and Qaiser Imam appeared before the court.
Imaan was sent on a 14-day judicial custody by the ATC a day earlier. Her counsel filed a bail request after her arrest. The court, in response to the defence’s plea, scheduled the bail hearing for today and directed Imaan to be detained at the Women’s Police Station in Islamabad rather than Adiala Jail.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC), in a written order, has also issued a restraining order preventing Imaan’s arrest in any other cases.
The advocate’s mother moved the court for her safety concerning another arrest. She said there might be a risk of re-arrest in the third case if bail is granted. However, the court assured that the interior secretary, Islamabad IG, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) DG will not arrest Imaan nor provide assistance to any province.
The court further directed the authorities to ensure that Imaan is not taken out of the jurisdiction of Islamabad.
On August 20, Imaan and former lawmaker Ali Wazir were arrested for alleged sedition. The lawyer had initially been granted bail by the ATC in the case registered against her for participating in a protest in the federal capital organised by the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM). However, she was arrested only hours later by the Islamabad police on a first information report (FIR) registered at the Bara Kahu police station under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
They had been booked in two separate cases — for alleged sedition by the Counter-Terrorism Department police and “rioting” by the Tarnol police.
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