ISLAMABAD – An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday expressed dismay at police officials for failing to produce the case record in the bail applications of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, and ordered handcuffs to be brought to the courtroom.
Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Abu Al-Hasnat Zulqarnain took up the bail application filed by both Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha.
The judge expressed dismay over the absence of the investigating officer and summoned the DSP in person.
Defense lawyer Riasat Ali said that he was ready to present detailed arguments before the court. The judge then asked, “Where is the investigating officer?” A court official said that the investigating officer was out of the city.
Judge Abu Al-Hasnat Zulqarnain expressed dismay and said, “Where exactly is he out of the city? Call the DSP. Verbal explanations will not be accepted.” The judge also ordered that handcuffs be brought and summoned the security in-charge.
When the DSP appeared, the judge asked, “Where is the case record?” When the DSP spoke in English, Judge Abu Al-Hasnat Zulqarnain remarked, “Speak to me in Urdu.”
The DSP said, “According to my information, the investigating officer is out of the city.” The judge replied, “How can you come here like this? I do not like verbal explanations.” The DSP said, “Give me some time and I will tell you.” The judge responded, “Bring something on the record. I will send both you and the SP to jail for six months. You people should be ashamed. You have turned this into lawlessness.”
Judge Abu Al-Hasnat Zulqarnain, while expressing dismay at the DSP, said, “I will make you stand over there in the dock facing away. Bring me the evidence and show it to me. I will send you to jail for six months right now, in uniform. Then the blame falls on the courts. You have turned this into a drama.”
The DSP said that the investigating officer had gone to Gilgit-Baltistan. The DSP presented a printout of a WhatsApp copy in court, but the court refused to accept it.
Judge Abu Al-Hasnat threw the WhatsApp copy back toward the DSP and ordered him to present the original copy before the court.
The court ordered the DSP to remain standing in the dock and told the security in-charge, “When I make my decision, you are not to let them leave; they are to be arrested. Tell the person at the gate that the DSP must not leave. There should be a judicial force so that the court can immediately enforce its orders. Here, it seems as though the system of 1898 and 1860 is still in operation.”
