ATC orders jail authorities to facilitate lawyers' meetings with Imaan, Hadi

Islamabad court adjourns further proceedings until October 14

ISLAMABAD:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Monday directed jail authorities to facilitate meetings between lawyer Imaan Mazari, her husband Hadi Ali Chattha and their legal team, which had been unable to meet them in connection with a case involving the removal of barriers.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra issued the directions during the hearing, which was attended by former human rights minister Shireen Mazari and lawyers Riasat Ali Azad and Aimal Khan. During the proceedings, Azad argued that the case could not proceed without allowing the legal team, comprising Azad, Zainab Janjua and Aimal Khan, to meet their clients.

The judge observed that anti-terrorism law required trials to be conducted on a daily basis and asked the prosecution how many witnesses it intended to produce. The prosecutor said there were nine witnesses. The judge subsequently directed the prosecutor to ensure that the accused were given access to their lawyers.

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Chattha questioned why he and Imaan were not being brought before the court, arguing that their continued absence undermined the requirements of a fair trial. He said they had been in jail for eight months and questioned how they could defend themselves and proceed with the case under such circumstances.

He also raised concerns about the confidentiality of meetings between lawyers and their clients, pointing out that cameras had been installed in the areas where meetings were held inside the jail. “The court has to decide our fate. Please summon us to court,” Chattha said, adding that it was for the court to determine whether he and Imaan were terrorists.

The court adjourned further proceedings until October 14.

Case background

Imaan and her husband Chattha were rearrested on September 17, shortly after the Supreme Court granted them bail and suspended their sentences in a separate social-media posts case. They were produced before an Islamabad ATC in connection with a case registered at Kohsar Police Station.

Police sought 30-day physical remand, but ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain rejected the request and sent the couple on judicial remand. The judge noted that although they had been nominated in the FIR as members of an unlawful assembly, no weapon had been attributed to either accused.

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On September 27, the court issued a contempt notice to the Adiala jail superintendent after the authorities failed to facilitate the signing and transmission of the documents and also failed to produce the accused through video link. Two days later, the issue was resolved after Imaan and Chattha signed the required powers of attorney.

On September 29, the ATC ended the contempt proceedings against the jail authorities and separately confirmed that notices had been issued on the couple’s bail applications, with arguments scheduled before Judge Abul Hasnat.

On October 7, the ATC had framed charges against Imaan and Chattha in the case related to the alleged violation of a designated route and incitement during the arrival of an international cricket team, despite defence objections that legal requirements had not been fulfilled.