Supreme Court of Pakistan grants bail to Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has granted bail to lawyer and rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha. The decision comes while the couple awaits a ruling from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) regarding applications to suspend their sentences.

In January 2026, Mazari and Chattha were sentenced to a combined 17 years in prison following charges related to social media posts. Prosecutors alleged these posts promoted an anti-state narrative in violation of cybercrime laws. The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, suspended the trial court's decision and set bail at Rs 200,000 each via surety bonds.

During the proceedings, the Supreme Court issued a rebuke to the Islamabad High Court for repeated and unexplained delays. Justice Afghan noted that the IHC had failed to comply with a previous Supreme Court order from May 12, which had directed the high court to decide the applications within two weeks. The bench observed that the pattern of adjournments at the IHC was effectively preventing the Supreme Court from functioning.