The Ministry of Law has notified a jail trial for lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha, directing that the next hearing in their case be held at Adiala Jail, an Islamabad anti-terrorism court was informed on Thursday.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra had already directed lawyers and witnesses to appear at Adiala Jail for the next hearing in the Aabpara police station barrier-removal case, which was adjourned until Friday.
The Imaan Mazari Hadi jail trial notification
During Thursday’s hearing, the couple appeared through a video link while their lawyers, Eamil Khan Mandokhail and Riasat Ali Azad, appeared in person. Mandokhail submitted an affidavit describing the difficulties he faced visiting Adiala Jail on Tuesday to meet his clients.
According to the affidavit, he received a certified copy of the court order at 2:52pm and reached the jail at 3:50pm, where he asked the deputy superintendent for a confidential meeting under the Pakistan Prison Rules 1978 and the court’s directions.
He was made to wait about an hour before a 25-minute meeting at 4:45pm in a conference room. The meeting was recorded and lacked privacy, Mandokhail said, and he was not allowed to hand over the case documents he had brought.
The affidavit added that two female constables stayed with Imaan throughout, the door remained open and male constables stood outside, so jail officials could hear the entire conversation. Mandokhail called the arrangements a violation of the court’s order.
Accused want physical production, not video link
The affidavit stated that the two accused insisted they were not boycotting the trial. Mandokhail said they wanted to appear in person because audio and internet problems during online appearances stopped them from following the proceedings and consulting their lawyers properly. Their instructions, he said, were to challenge all court orders.
Azad argued the trial could not proceed without the accused present in person, asking why police had not produced them when accused persons are routinely brought to court. “They are not terrorists; they can even come on a horse-drawn carriage,” he said.
Judge Sipra said he had spent four or five days directing that the accused be produced, calling the police conduct regrettable. He asked whether the jail had submitted a report explaining the failure, warning the senior superintendent of police would be summoned if none had arrived.
The judge noted that police had filed an application seeking a jail trial, but the matter had not been finalised. SP Pari Gul asked for two to three hours to report on progress, while Azad sought an adjournment.
Addressing the couple over the video link, Judge Sipra briefed them on the proceedings. Hadi said they had no objection to appearing physically or facing a jail trial, provided their lawyers and journalists were also allowed at the jail.
Case background
Imaan and Hadi were rearrested on September 17, shortly after the Supreme Court granted them bail and suspended their sentences in a separate case about social media posts. They were produced before an Islamabad ATC in a case registered at Kohsar police station.
Police sought 30-day physical remand, but ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain rejected the request and sent the couple on judicial remand, noting no weapon had been attributed to either accused.
On September 27, the court issued a contempt notice to the Adiala jail superintendent over failures to facilitate document signing and video-link production. The issue was resolved two days later after both signed powers of attorney, and contempt proceedings ended on September 29.
On October 7, the ATC framed charges against the couple over the alleged violation of a designated route and incitement during the arrival of an international cricket team, despite defence objections that legal requirements had not been met.
The case is the latest chapter in proceedings that have drawn international attention. UN experts earlier demanded the couple’s immediate release, while the ATC’s earlier indictment set the stage for this trial phase.
Frequently asked questions
What did the law ministry notify about Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha?
The ministry notified that the next hearing in the barrier-removal case against the couple will be held at Adiala Jail, with lawyers and witnesses directed to attend.
What complaints did the defence raise about the Adiala meeting?
Lawyer Eamil Khan Mandokhail said his 25-minute meeting with the couple lacked privacy, was recorded, and he could not hand over case documents.
Do Imaan and Hadi object to a jail trial?
Hadi told the court they had no objection to appearing physically or facing a jail trial, as long as their lawyers and journalists are also allowed at the jail.
What is the barrier-removal case about?
Registered at Aabpara police station, it concerns the alleged removal of barriers, plus charges of route violation and incitement during an international cricket team’s arrival.
