Islamabad ATC summons Islamabad police chief in security breach case against Imaan and Hadi

ISLAMABAD - An anti-terrorism court summoned the Islamabad police chief and delivered formal notices to two policemen following the ongoing inability to present the case file in the security breach case against lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha. The incident involved allegedly disrupting a security route for an international cricket team and instigating public unrest.

Imaan and her spouse were arrested on Oct 7 and charged with removing barriers from the route. During the hearing on Saturday, ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain ordered the two police officials to explain their incompetence in ensuring the production of the record. The court expressed frustration over the absence of the investigating officer and the lack of the case record.

Imaan's lawyer claimed the bail application was filed on October 29 last year and the issue persisted due to the officer's absence. The judge asked the SP and DSP to appear again for the next hearing on November 3. The couple had already been in custody since their arrest on Jan 23 for protesting outside the Islamabad High Court and allegedly manhandling the IHC Bar Association president.

The arrest led to criticism from rights organizations, politicians, and journalists, who emphasized the couple's right to a fair trial. Despite the reprieve granted by the Supreme Court on September 17, the couple was arrested again in March 2022 in connection with another case, leading to their present situation.