Lawyer Imaan Mazari. Photo: X
ISLAMABAD:
An Islamabad district court on Saturday reissued non-release arrest warrants for human rights lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, during the trial of their case.
The hearing was held at the District and Sessions Court in Islamabad and presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Mojoka. Prosecutor Rana Usman, DSP Legal, and defense counsel Riyasat Ali Azad were present.
The defense lawyer told the court that Mazari and Chattha had surrendered and appeared before the judge, requesting the suspension of an earlier order directing their arrest and production through a video link. The court briefly adjourned the hearing at the request.
When the matter resumed, Justice Mojoka said a questionnaire had been drawn up and would be delivered to the accused, adding that further proceedings would be conducted in open court.
The judge noted that the court had earlier issued a court order canceling bail and ordered the issuance of arrest warrants. Citing a Lahore High Court decision, he noted that arrest warrants could be withdrawn in certain situations, but said the case at hand was being heard on a daily basis.
Read: Court orders arrests of Imaan Mazari, Hadi Chattha within 24 hours
Judge Mojoka said the police had received the NCCIA report regarding the warrants but noted that the arrest warrants had not been executed.
Advising the defense to approach the Islamabad High Court for assistance, he said he had gone through the law and the case in detail. “If I had the power to overturn the bail cancellation order, I would have done so,” the judge said.
The defense argued that the accused should have a conducive environment to appear in court and questioned the reasons why bail had been cancelled, maintaining that the High Court could review its own decision.
Prosecutor Rana Usman opposed the request, arguing that only the High Court had the power to grant such relief. He said the trial court could not reverse its earlier ruling until the accused formally surrendered.
The court adjourned the case until January 19.
Case history
The case against Mazari and Chattha centers on alleged controversial posts and reposts on X, formerly Twitter, which authorities have described as “anti-state”. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency registered the case under the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act, 2016, saying the content was intended to incite divisions and portray government institutions negatively.
In the past, the High Court issued non-bailable arrest warrants after the accused failed to appear, drawing criticism and legal challenges from the defence. The couple later approached the Islamabad High Court alleging lack of transparency and procedural irregularities, including recording of evidence in their absence and without proper legal representation.
Their request to transfer the case was heard by the High Court, which declined to grant an immediate stay. The couple then moved the Supreme Court, which ordered a temporary stay of the trial until the High Court concludes its hearing.
Legal bodies, including the Islamabad Bar Association, have criticized aspects of the case, claiming that the defendants’ right to a fair defense has been undermined.
