Imaan Mazari Hadi Chattha case: ATC summons Islamabad police chief
ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court on Saturday summoned the Islamabad police chief and issued show-cause notices to two police officials over the continued failure to produce the case record in the Imaan Mazari Hadi Chattha case.
The court directed IGP Muhammad Sohail Chaudhry to appear at the Nov 3 hearing, and warned SP Khurram Ashraf and DSP Naeem Yousuf of possible imprisonment if the record is not produced.
The case concerns the alleged disruption of an international cricket team’s security route and incitement to public unrest; the couple was indicted on Oct 7 over the alleged removal of barriers.
Missing record stalls proceedings
At Saturday’s hearing, ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain expressed displeasure over the investigating officer’s continued absence and asked where the case record was.
A court official said the investigating officer had travelled to Gilgit-Baltistan and had not returned, and the judge summoned the superintendent (investigation) to explain.
After a short break, SP Khurram Ashraf and DSP Naeem Yousuf appeared. The SP said the investigating officer had travelled to Khaplu and would appear on his return; pressed for a timeline, the DSP said 10 to 15 more days.
The pattern is not new: at an earlier bail hearing in this case, the same judge warned of jailing the DSP and SP after the investigating officer went missing.
Riasat Ali Azad, for the accused, said the bail application was filed on October 29 last year, but proceedings could not move forward without the investigating officer and the record. He urged the judge to decide the matter in accordance with the law.
Islamabad Bar Council vice chairman Asif Irfan said the court was not powerless but had been unable to ensure production of the record. Aleem Abbasi urged the judge to decide the matter on merit, while Zafar Khokhar questioned under which law an investigating officer could take the case record away.
The judge expressed displeasure over some lawyers’ tone, remarking that he was not influenced by vlogs or commentary and always proceeded impartially.
Judge criticises delays, discharges PTI workers
The judge also criticised police for the prolonged hardship case delays had caused PTI workers, and ordered the discharge of several people arrested in connection with the PTI’s long march, whose convoy reached Peshawar on its fifth day.
The court then issued show-cause notices to the SP and DSP, warning that failure to produce the record could lead to imprisonment proceedings.
The Imaan Mazari Hadi Chattha case so far
The proceedings are the latest chapter in a battle that began in January. The couple has been in jail since their Jan 23 arrest over a protest outside the Islamabad High Court and the alleged manhandling of the IHC Bar Association president, which drew criticism from rights bodies, politicians and journalists.
A day later, a sessions court sentenced them to 17 years under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act over controversial social media posts. Lawyers and UN experts condemned the conviction, and UN experts later demanded the couple’s immediate release.
On Sept 17, the Supreme Court suspended the sentences pending the IHC’s final verdict. Hours later, police re-arrested the couple in a fresh case, and an ATC sent them to jail on judicial remand.
The fresh case was registered at Islamabad’s Kohsar police station on March 22 last year on City Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Chandio’s complaint. The couple was accused of chanting anti-government slogans and blocking roads, and was named in the FIR, which initially carried no Anti-Terrorism Act section and listed Pakistan Penal Code sections on disobedience, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, assault on a public servant and obstruction.
The couple was indicted on Oct 7, and the ATC on Oct 10 disposed of their petition to drop the terrorism charges. On Oct 15, the court moved the next hearing to Adiala jail after police cited transport difficulties. At the Oct 16 hearing, the couple objected to how they were presented, then walked out with their lawyers.
The original reporting on Saturday’s hearing was published by Dawn.
FAQ
Who did the ATC summon?
Islamabad IGP Muhammad Sohail Chaudhry, who must appear at the Nov 3 hearing. Show-cause notices were issued to SP Khurram Ashraf and DSP Naeem Yousuf.
Why is the case record missing?
The investigating officer travelled to Gilgit-Baltistan’s Khaplu area and has not returned. Police told the court he may take another 10 to 15 days.
What are the couple accused of?
Allegedly disrupting the security route of an international cricket team by removing barriers, and inciting public unrest. They were indicted on Oct 7.
What happened to their earlier 17-year sentence?
A sessions court handed down the 17-year Peca sentence on Jan 24, but the Supreme Court suspended it on Sept 17 pending the IHC’s final verdict. Hours later, police re-arrested them in this case.
