ISLAMABAD: ATC Orders Imaan Mazari, Husband to Appear via Video Link in a case registered at the Secretariat Police Station after Adiala Jail authorities failed to produce lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, before the court in person on Friday.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra was hearing the case involving the couple. The court had previously directed authorities to produce both accused in person; however, they were not brought before the court from Adiala Jail.
The judge subsequently adjourned the proceedings until Saturday and directed jail authorities to ensure that Mazari and Chattha appear before the court through video link.
ATC Orders Imaan Mazari, Husband to Appear Via Video Link
During the hearing, the judge said the matter would be taken up again the following day and instructed authorities to arrange the appearance of both accused through video link.
Mazari and Chattha were arrested last week and subsequently sent to Adiala Jail on judicial remand in connection with the case. Their arrests came hours after the Supreme Court suspended their sentences and granted them bail in a separate case.
According to police sources, the fresh case includes allegations relating to an anti-state narrative, incitement and interference in government affairs. The allegations are subject to proceedings before the court.
Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha Face Multiple Legal Proceedings
In a separate case concerning their social media posts, the Supreme Court suspended the couple’s sentences and granted them bail against surety bonds of Rs200,000 each, pending a final decision by the Islamabad High Court.
Earlier, an Islamabad district and sessions court had sentenced Mazari and Chattha to 17 years in prison each under different provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
The couple subsequently challenged the convictions before the Islamabad High Court. They had initially been booked by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency under Sections 9, 10, 11 and 26 of PECA over allegations that their social media posts attempted to create divisions on linguistic grounds.
The ATC is scheduled to resume proceedings on Saturday, with authorities directed to ensure the appearance of both accused through video link.
