The court released the lawyer on bail in exchange for a Rs. 10,000 surety bond.

Police officials presents arrested lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Mazari-Hazir (C) before a court in Islamabad on August 20, 2023. — AFP
Police officials present arrested lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Mazari-Hazir (C) before a court in Islamabad on Sep 2, 2023. —  AFP

ISLAMABAD: Imaan Mazari, a human rights attorney, was granted bail on Saturday by an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad in connection with a terror case that had been filed against her at the Barakahu police station in the federal capital.

Imaan was granted bail during the hearing today by ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnai in exchange for a Rs 10,000 surety bond.

Imaan was taken into prison by the police after the judge on Tuesday granted Raja Naveed's request for a three-day physical remand for Imaan.

Soon after an ATC judge had granted the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Ali Wazir and herself bail in a sedition case relating to the contentious statement against state institutions, Imaan was detained in a fresh terror case outside the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.

The FIR

Following the PTM rally, Tarnol Station House Officer (SHO) Miam Mohammad Imran filed a first information report (FIR) against Imaan alleging "interference in state affairs" in violation of Sections 148 (rioting with a deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), and 341 (punish

The SHO of the Barakahu police station revealed that he was present at Tarnol Phatak Chowk on Friday around 5 p.m. when the demonstration — in violation of its NOC — started moving from the site designated to it. He was tasked with preserving law and order during a PTM rally.

He insisted that when law enforcement tried to put an end to the event, rallygoers brandishing batons engaged in combat with the police. After being stopped by the police, the throng blocked both lanes of GT Road, according to the FIR.

According to the SHO, when the PTM leaders and followers were ordered to open the road, they fought the officers, threatened them with terrible repercussions, trashed surrounding businesses, and damaged cars.