Islamabad ATC tells authorities to allow Imaan, Hadi to meet their legal team in jail

An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad ordered on Monday that jail authorities allow the legal teams of human rights defender Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, to see them in prison. The couple was charged on October 7th over allegations of disrupting an international cricket team's security route and inciting public unrest.

On October 10th, the court dismissed their plea to have the terrorism charges dropped. Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, who heard the case, ordered Advocates Riasat Ali Azad, Zainab Janjua, and Aimal Khan to meet the accused in jail.

Imaan's mother, former human rights minister Dr Shireen Mazari, accompanied her daughter to court, along with the lawyers. Hadi Ali Chattha took part in the proceedings remotely via video link. The defense requested a postponement, stating that the October 10th decision was being challenged in the Islamabad High Court. Defense lawyer Azad stressed the importance of a fair trial, pointing out that the defense team was unaware of the incident's details or the location where it occurred.

The judge questioned whether proceedings conducted with the defendants joining via video link should be deemed a proper trial. Azad answered affirmatively.

During the hearing, the couple expressed difficulties in communicating through the video link, citing broken voices. Azad asked how they were supposed to proceed with the case. The judge noted that the anti-terrorism law mandates daily trials and asked the prosecution about the remaining witnesses. The prosecutor informed the court that nine witnesses still needed to be presented. The judge then directed the prosecution to ensure the accused received access to their lawyers.

Hadi Ali Chattha objected to the way the proceedings were being conducted, questioning why he and Imaan were not present in person before the court. He called this action against fair trial principles and expressed that they had been in jail for eight months, struggling to continue their case. He also raised concerns over privacy during consultations with their lawyers, as cameras were installed in the designated meeting area at the jail, making private conversations challenging.

Hadi told the judge they should be summoned to court as it was their job to determine whether they were terrorists. The court adjourned further proceedings until October 14th.

A related issue occurred when the court criticized contradictory reports from Adiala jail authorities regarding Imaan's appearance through a video link in different cases. On October 10th, she was presented via video link in the case of removing security barriers. However, in a report concerning former MNA Ali Wazir, the same authorities claimed she could not be produced through a video link on that day due to internet connectivity problems.

Judge Sipra expressed astonishment at the discrepancy and questioned the accuracy of the reports. He accused the jail staff of not reading their own submissions, suggesting they simply copied information. The court issued a fresh show-cause notice to the jail authorities and directed them to present Imaan through a video link in the case on October 19th.