ISLAMABAD – An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday indicted Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha in a case related to the removal of barriers.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra presided over the hearing, during which Dr Shireen Mazari appeared before the court along with lawyers Eman Khan Mandokhail, Zainab Janjua and others. Prosecutor Raja Naveed also attended the proceedings.
During the hearing, lawyer Zainab Janjua told the court that she had not been allowed to meet Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha despite a court order. She also said copies of the case documents had not been provided to the two accused.
“I waited outside the jail for two hours, but I was not allowed to meet them despite the court’s order,” Janjua said, requesting the court to produce Mazari and Chattha before it.
Judge Supra said he had received reports from the jail authorities.
Janjua questioned why the accused were not being produced in court when prisoners were being brought from Adiala Jail.
The court subsequently framed charges against Mazari and Chattha and summoned prosecution witnesses for October 9. The two accused were produced before the court through video link.
Chattha objected to the indictment, saying he had not yet received copies of the case documents.
“I have not even been provided the copies yet. The charges cannot be framed until all legal requirements are fulfilled,” he said.
Janjua also objected to the proceedings, arguing that neither Mazari nor Chattha had received the required 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 proceeded with the indictment.
Judge Tahir Abbas told Janjua that she could challenge the order if she wished.
The court ordered that Mazari and Chattha be physically produced at the next hearing and adjourned the proceedings until October 9.
Court expresses dismay over non-submission of Imaan Mazari, Chattha case record
