{
  "id": 10677317,
  "title": "Islamabad ATC drops contempt proceedings against Adiala authorities after powers of attorney for Imaan, Hadi signed",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/islamabad-atc-drops-contempt-proceedings-against-adiala-authorities-10677317",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T11:12:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2033516/islamabad-atc-drops-contempt-proceedings-against-adiala-authorities-after-powers-of-attorney-for-imaan-hadi-signed"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad dropped contempt of court proceedings against Adiala Jail authorities on Tuesday, after the required powers of attorney for human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were signed. This came after an ATC had previously issued a contempt notice to the jail superintendent for allegedly hindering the signing and transmission of the necessary documents. During a hearing on Saturday, ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra directed the superintendent to create rules governing the signing of powers of attorney by prisoners to ensure the process does not impede access to justice. The court was later informed that the powers of attorney for Imaan and Hadi had been signed, leading Sipra to dismiss the contempt proceedings. The judge expressed concern over the obstacles lawyers face in obtaining the required documents, stating that SOPs established by the high court have significantly improved the process, though occasional issues still exist. In a separate case, ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain heard bail petitions filed by Imaan and Hadi in connection with a protest. The court issued notices to the parties and scheduled their arguments on bail for October 5. Former federal minister Shireen Mazari mentioned that the couple was brought before the court after it opened at night, but ATC Judge Zulqarnain clarified that the court had already been operational and he had been present when informed of the remand hearing. Imaan and Hadi were previously sentenced to 17 years in prison on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) in a controversial social media posts case. The Supreme Court suspended their sentences and released them on bail with a Rs200,000 surety bond in September, but they were arrested again by Islamabad police in March in connection with another case registered at the federal capital's Kohsar police station. The couple was accused of chanting anti-government slogans and obstructing roads, though no section of the Anti-Terrorism Act was added to the FIR at the time of registration.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday dropped contempt of court proceedings against Adiala jail authorities after the vakalatnamas (powers of attorney) for human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were signed, while another ATC issued notices on their bail petitions in a case registered against them over a protest. On Saturday, an ATC had issued a contempt of court…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Islamabad ATC dropped contempt proceedings against Adiala jail officials",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/islamabad-atc-dropped-contempt-proceedings-against-adiala-jail",
        "published": "2026-09-29T07:49:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "Islamabad ATC drops contempt proceedings against Adiala authorities after powers of attorney for Imaan, Hadi signed",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/islamabad-atc-drops-contempt-proceedings-against-adiala-authorities",
        "published": "2026-09-29T11:12:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}