An Anti-Terrorism Court on Thursday ordered the re-arrest of lawyer couple Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, sending them back to Adiala Jail on judicial remand, mere hours after the Supreme Court had suspended their sentences and granted them bail in a separate case.
Reportedly, the couple has been taken into custody in connection with a case registered against them at Kohsar police station under charges of anti-state narrative, incitement and interference in government affairs. Immediately after their release, police produced them before the ATC, which rejected a request for 30 days of physical remand, instead sending them both on judicial remand.
The court also ordered medical examinations of both and sought reports at the next hearing.
The re-arrest followed the Supreme Court suspending the couple’s sentences in a case related to controversial tweets and granting them bail against surety bonds worth Rs. 200,000 each, pending the final decision on the case by the Islamabad High Court.
In January, an Islamabad district and sessions court had sentenced the couple to 10 years’ imprisonment under Section 10 (cyber terrorism), five years’ imprisonment under Section 9 (glorification of an offense) and two years’ imprisonment under Section 26-A (false and fake information) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, totaling 17 years. All sentences were to run concurrently.
Their arrest and detention has prompted condemnation from lawyers groups and human rights bodies.