Islamabad ATC indicts Imaan, Hadi in security breach case despite objection over incomplete legal formalities

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad formally indicted lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha on Tuesday for alleged offenses related to disrupting an international cricket team's security route and inciting public unrest. The court proceedings were presided over by Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, who allowed both accused to be presented via video link.

Imaan's lawyer, Zainab Janjua, and Hadi's lawyer, Advocate Zainab Janjua, both opposed the indictment, stating that neither of their clients had received copies of the case documents and were not allowed to meet with their legal representatives. Despite these objections, the court proceeded with the indictment. The court scheduled prosecution witnesses to appear on Friday and directed that the accused return for the next hearing on October 9.

The hearing was previously postponed due to a power outage preventing the accused from being produced via video link. Imaan and Hadi had previously been arrested on January 23 for protesting outside the Islamabad High Court and allegedly manhandling the IHC Bar Association president, leading to widespread condemnation. They were sentenced to 17 years in a separate case on September 17, but the Supreme Court suspended their sentences pending the Islamabad High Court's final decision on their appeals.

However, they were rearrested on March 22 in connection with another case and produced before the ATC, leading to their current judicial remand.