ISLAMABAD – Imaan Mazari appeared via video link in the controversial tweet case but boycotted the court proceedings and levelled allegations against the presiding judge during the hearing at the District and Sessions Courts in the federal capital.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka was hearing the case.
The case against Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha At the outset, the court directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) and the Deputy Director of the National Cyber Crime Investigation (NCCI) to ensure the accused were produced before the court at 10am.
Judge Majoka remarked that, in light of the Islamabad High Court’s order, it was the final day for cross-examination. The court then adjourned the hearing until 10am.
When proceedings resumed, police officials submitted their reply, stating that due to security concerns and other reasons, they required five to six hours to produce the accused physically. They requested the court to allow their appearance through a video link.
Accepting the plea, the court ordered that Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha be produced via video link at 10:30am and adjourned the hearing until that time.
Later, both accused appeared before the court through the video link. Judge Majoka asked whether they wished to begin the cross-examination. In response, Imaan Mazari asked whether the media was present in the courtroom and alleged that they were being subjected to mistreatment and denied food and water.
Addressing the judge, she said he was “doing his job” and held him responsible for the situation, before announcing a boycott of the court proceedings.
Judge Majoka responded by asking whether they did not wish to be part of the proceedings and advised them to wait for the court’s decision. However, Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha stood up and left the video link before the hearing concluded. The judge then directed court staff to record the entire proceedings and submit the record to him.
During the hearing, advocate Ashraf Gujjar requested the court to summon the accused physically. The judge remarked that they had appeared online and said he would consider the request, adding that a complete record of the proceedings was available and a written order would be issued.
Meanwhile, in Rawalpindi, the District Bar Association observed a strike over the arrest of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha. Lawyers boycotted court proceedings and called a protest meeting at 11:30am.
The bar’s secretary demanded the immediate release of Imaan Mazari while the association’s president termed the arrests of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha “unconstitutional and illegal.”
