An Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad has ordered that lawyers be allowed to visit rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in prison. The order was issued on Monday, when the court heard a case concerning the removal of security barriers placed against the couple.
The case was registered at Aabpara Police Station. According to the case, the couple are accused of posing a security risk by interfering in state affairs during a visit by an international cricket team in October 2024. The allegations have been put before the court, and the couple’s side has raised objections to how the proceedings are being handled.
Indictment proceeds despite objections over case documents
The court indicted Mazari and Chattha earlier this week, even though the accused objected that they had not yet received copies of the case documents. At Monday’s hearing, the pair joined proceedings by video link, while Shireen Mazari and lawyers Riasat Ali Azad and Aimal Khan attended in person.
Chattha asked why he and Mazari were not being brought to court physically, arguing that this undermined their right to a fair trial. He said the couple had spent eight months in prison and wondered how they could pursue their case in such conditions.
Lawyer Riasat Ali told the court that the case could not move forward without access to the accused. He asked, “how are we supposed to take the case forward?” Chattha also said that cameras had been installed during earlier prison meetings with lawyers, and he questioned how a lawyer and client could speak confidentially under those circumstances.
Judge orders lawyer access and sets next hearing
Judge Tahir Abbas Supra ordered that lawyers Riasat Ali Azad, Zainab Janjua and Aimal Khan be permitted to meet Mazari and Chattha in jail. He directed the prosecutor to ensure the accused were given that access, stressing that the facility could not be withheld.
The defence also told the judge that it would challenge the October 10 order before the Islamabad High Court. That order had disposed of a petition contesting the terrorism provisions invoked in the case. Judge Supra observed that if the High Court accepted the application, proceedings before his court would end. The hearing was adjourned until 14 October.
Jail authorities’ report draws judge’s scepticism
Separately, Judge Supra voiced surprise at discrepancies in a report submitted by Adiala Jail authorities about producing Mazari by video link. The court noted that she had appeared by video link in the barrier-removal case on 10 October. On the same day, however, the authorities had cited a lack of internet connectivity as the reason they could not produce her in another case.
Questioning that explanation, the judge asked whether the reports were being prepared without being read, or were simply being copied and pasted. The court also directed the authorities to produce Mazari by video link on 19 October in the Ali Wazir case.
