An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday granted bail to human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Ali Wazir in a sedition case related to their contentious speech against state institutions.
The plea was heard by ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain, who approved the post-arrest bail of Imaan and Wazir against surety bonds of Rs30,000 each.
Imaan and Wazir were arrested last week and sent on physical remand after they were accused of making a contentious remark during a PTM's public rally.
On August 19, two first information reports (FIR) were lodged against Imaan and Wazir at the Tarnol police station and the Counter-Terrorism Department police station, following a rally of the PTM in the federal capital.
Both were booked on charges of sedition, interfering with the performance of government functions, and causing damage to public property.
The FIR relating to "interference in state affairs", was filed on the complaint of Tarnol Station House Officer (SHO) Mian Mohammad Imran following the PTM rally, under Sections 148 (rioting armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing a public servant in the discharge of public functions), 188 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty), 395 (punishment for dacoity), 440 (mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt) and 506ii (criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
Tasked with maintaining law and order during a rally of the PTM, the SHO said that he was present with other police officials at Tarnol Phatak Chowk on Friday at 5 p.m. when the rally, in violation of its NOC, started moving from the place allocated to it.
The second FIR was registered under PPC Sections 124A (sedition), 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), and 149 (every member of an unlawful assembly guilty of an offense committed in the prosecution of a common object).