The Imaan Mazari ATC case took a new turn on Saturday when an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad disposed of an application challenging the terrorism provisions invoked against lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha. The proceedings were marked by questions over the couple’s appearance in court, objections from their defence lawyers and a boycott of the hearing. The court subsequently recorded statements from three prosecution witnesses and adjourned further proceedings until Monday.
Court Disposes of Petition Challenging Terrorism Provisions
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra heard the case registered at Aabpara Police Station concerning allegations that Mazari and Chattha created a security risk during an international cricket team’s visit to Pakistan in October 2024.
The prosecution case relates to alleged interference with security arrangements and the designated route for the visiting team. The allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings, and the court has not issued a final verdict on the couple’s guilt in this case.
The defence had challenged the inclusion of terrorism-related provisions, arguing that the charges should not proceed without the necessary legal formalities being completed.
However, Judge Sipra disposed of the application, observing that the matter could not be heard at the current stage of the proceedings. The application was disposed of without the defence lawyers being heard on its merits.
Judge Questions Failure to Produce the Accused
During Saturday’s hearing, the judge questioned why the two accused had not initially been produced despite an order requiring their appearance in person or through video link.
The court directed its staff to contact Adiala jail authorities and establish why the couple had not been brought before the court. No jail official appeared during the initial part of the hearing, prompting the judge to seek an explanation and briefly suspend proceedings.
Mazari and Chattha were subsequently produced through a video link.
Chattha questioned the circumstances surrounding the proceedings, saying the couple had learned through newspaper reports that charges had been framed against them. He had previously objected to the indictment, maintaining that they had not received copies of the case documents before the charges were framed.
Judge Sipra responded that the accused had challenged the framing of charges and that the relevant high court could set aside the charge if it found that the process had not been conducted correctly.
The judge also directed a jail official to submit an explanation for failing to comply with the court’s order regarding the couple’s appearance.
Defence Lawyers Boycott Proceedings
The hearing became more contentious when defence counsel Zainab Janjua objected to the manner in which the proceedings were conducted.
Janjua alleged that Mazari and Chattha had been deprived of their right to a fair trial because they were not present during the open-court proceedings. She also raised concerns about their access to legal representation and the circumstances surrounding the framing of charges.
The defence lawyers subsequently boycotted the proceedings along with the accused.
Despite the boycott, the court continued with the trial and recorded statements from three prosecution witnesses. Further witnesses were summoned for Monday, when the case is scheduled to resume.
The development has placed procedural issues, including access to case documents and the participation of detained defendants, at the centre of the ongoing proceedings. The defence’s objections are allegations that remain distinct from any final judicial determination.
Background to the Security Breach Case
The Imaan Mazari ATC case stems from an incident in October 2024 involving security arrangements for an international cricket team visiting Islamabad.
According to the case registered at Aabpara Police Station, the couple allegedly interfered with security arrangements and created a risk during the team’s visit. The case has since moved through multiple hearings, including proceedings concerning remand, access to legal representation and the framing of charges.
Earlier this week, the ATC formally indicted Mazari and Chattha despite objections from the defence that the necessary legal formalities had not been completed. The couple argued that they had not received copies of the case record in time and raised concerns about their ability to prepare their defence.
Rearrest Following Supreme Court Relief
The couple has also faced proceedings in a separate case related to controversial social media posts.
According to reports, a sessions court sentenced them to 17 years on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). On September 17, the Supreme Court suspended their sentences and granted them bail against surety bonds of Rs200,000 each while the related matter remained pending before the Islamabad High Court.
However, they were arrested again hours later in connection with another case registered over a protest outside the Islamabad High Court. The new proceedings are separate from the security breach case involving the cricket team.
Their detention and multiple legal cases have drawn attention to the ongoing court proceedings and the legal challenges faced by the couple.
The court has summoned additional prosecution witnesses for Monday. The proceedings are expected to continue as the defence and prosecution address the outstanding legal issues.
The Imaan Mazari ATC case now involves both the underlying allegations concerning the cricket team’s security arrangements and disputes over the conduct of the trial.
The next hearings may clarify how the court will address the defence’s objections and proceed with witness testimony. Until a final judgment is issued, the allegations against Mazari and Chattha remain allegations, and the case continues through the judicial process.
