An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Thursday replaced the state counsel in the Imaan Hadi case, a day after his appointment, after lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha objected to his conduct in an earlier case.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra accepted the couple’s application against Advocate Taimoor Janjua and named Atif Mehmood as the new state counsel. Janjua had been appointed on Wednesday to cross-examine prosecution witnesses after the defence lawyers failed to do so during the jail-trial proceedings at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail.
Imaan Hadi case: why the couple objected to the state counsel
During Thursday’s hearing, Imaan told the court that Janjua had earlier served as state counsel in another case against her, the controversial social media posts case in which the couple were sentenced in January this year.
Hadi went further. He alleged that the lawyer had told people he had received Rs500,000 and completed a cross-examination in a single day. The claim drew a sharp exchange in the courtroom.
Janjua challenged the allegation and retorted that the accused should accompany him to a private case outside the court to see whether he performed his professional duties properly. That response prompted defence counsel Advocate Aimal Khan Mandokhail to ask whether the state counsel was representing the accused or working against them.
Judge displeased with counsel’s conduct
Judge Sipra expressed displeasure over Janjua’s behaviour and questioned his manner of appearing before the court.
“Has no one ever taught you how to appear in court?” the judge asked the state counsel.
Imaan then informed the court that she and Hadi did not need a state counsel at all, since they already had their own lawyers. Hadi explained that their lawyers were frequently occupied with other cases at the Islamabad High Court, while the trial court had scheduled daily hearings at Adiala jail, making it difficult for them to attend every proceeding.
The dispute meant no prosecution witness could be cross-examined on Thursday. The court directed the witnesses to appear again on Friday and warned the accused that cross-examination would proceed without further delay. Addressing the couple, the judge directed them to ensure their lawyers conducted the cross-examination at the next hearing, adding that if they failed, the newly appointed state counsel Mehmood would undertake the exercise.
The court adjourned further proceedings until 9am on Friday.
Background of the security breach case
The couple, accused of removing barriers from the route, was indicted on October 7 in a 2024 case pertaining to the alleged disruption of an international cricket team’s security route and incitement to public unrest.
The lawyer couple has been in jail since their arrest on January 23 in a case registered over a protest outside the Islamabad High Court. A day later, a sessions court sentenced them to 17 years on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act in the social media posts case.
The Supreme Court suspended those sentences on September 17 and ordered their release pending the Islamabad High Court’s final verdict on their appeals, a relief detailed in our report on the apex court granting bail. Hours later, Islamabad police rearrested the couple in connection with a case registered at Kohsar police station, and an ATC sent them to jail on judicial remand. The couple had earlier appealed against the framing of charges, and the IHC heard their pleas on October 19, saying it would issue an order after hearing the respondents, as noted in our coverage of UN experts’ call for their release.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the ATC replace the state counsel?
The court accepted an application by Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha objecting to Advocate Taimoor Janjua’s appointment, citing his past conduct as state counsel in their social media posts case. Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra named Atif Mehmood as the replacement.
What is the security breach case about?
The 2024 case concerns the alleged removal of barriers from the security route of an international cricket team and incitement to public unrest. The couple was indicted on October 7 and is facing a jail trial at Adiala jail.
When is the next hearing?
The court adjourned proceedings until 9am on Friday, October 23, directing prosecution witnesses to appear again for cross-examination, warning it would proceed without further delay.
