ATC indicts Imaan Mazari, Hadi Ali Chattha in 2024 security breach case

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) — An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad indicted Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha in a case pertaining to removal of barriers, despite objections from the defence regarding non-provision of case documents and meetings with lawyers.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra presided over the hearing. Dr Shireen Mazari appeared before the court along with lawyers Eamil Khan Mandokhail, Zainab Janjua and others, while prosecutor Raja Naveed also appeared.

Zainab Janjua told the court that she had not been allowed to meet Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha despite a court order. She said copies of the case documents had also not been provided to them and that she had waited outside the jail for two hours.

She requested the court to produce Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha before it.

Judge Tahir Abbas Supra said he had reports from the jail before him. Zainab Janjua questioned why other prisoners were being brought from Adiala Jail but Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were not being produced before the court.

The court subsequently indicted Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, who were presented through video link. The court summoned prosecution witnesses for October 9.

Hadi Ali Chattha objected that he had not yet received copies of the case documents, arguing that charges could not be framed until the legal requirements were fulfilled.

Zainab Janjua also objected that neither Imaan Mazari nor Hadi Ali Chattha had received the copies, nor had they been allowed to meet their lawyers. She maintained that the court could not frame charges without fulfilling all legal requirements.

Despite the objections, the court framed charges against both accused. Judge Tahir Abbas told Zainab Janjua that she could challenge the order.

The court ordered that Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha be produced before it at the next hearing and adjourned the case until October 9.