Overview
- Justice Muhammad Azam Khan granted protective bail until Tuesday and directed both accused to appear before the Islamabad High Court.
- The trial court aligned with the directive, ordering the pair to appear within one hour of their IHC appearance and stating their statements under Section 342 CrPC would be recorded there, with the case adjourned until Tuesday.
- On Saturday, the additional district and sessions court reissued non-bailable arrest warrants after earlier bail cancellations and advised the defence to seek relief from the high court.
- The case, registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency under PECA Sections 9, 10, 11 and 26, alleges posts intended to incite linguistic division and cast state institutions negatively, with an indictment recorded on October 30.
- Defence counsel cited Mazari’s health and raised transparency concerns in seeking relief and transfer of the case, while the Supreme Court had earlier paused trial proceedings pending the high court’s review.