within 24 hours
ISLAMABAD
An Islamabad district and sessions court has ordered the arrest of Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha within 24 hours on Friday in a case related to alleged controversial social media posts. Additional District and Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka issued the order after expressing strong displeasure over the failure to execute arrest warrants after the sessions court on Thursday cancelled the bail of the husband and wife duo, citing repeated non-appearances and heated scenes during proceedings.
The court ordered their arrest and production before the court, and formally withdrew their right to cross-examination.
The case has been registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA). Prosecutors have accused Mazari and Chattha of inciting divisions on linguistic grounds through social media posts and of creating the impression that the state institutions were engaged in terrorism within the country.
