ATC orders jail access to lawyers for Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha

An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) has directed jail authorities to allow human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, to meet their legal team in prison. The order came after the couple raised concerns about access to their lawyers, confidential consultations and the fairness of proceedings in a case involving the alleged removal of security barriers.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra issued the directions during a hearing on Monday. He ordered jail authorities to facilitate meetings between the couple and their lawyers, Advocates Riasat Ali Azad, Zainab Janjua and Aimal Khan.

Imaan and Hadi attended the hearing through a video link, while Imaan’s mother, former human rights minister Dr Shireen Mazari, appeared in court alongside members of the defence team.

The couple was indicted on October 7 in a case involving allegations of disrupting the security route of an international cricket team and inciting public unrest. On October 10, the court dismissed their petition seeking the removal of terrorism charges. The defence has challenged that decision before the Islamabad High Court and requested an adjournment while the matter remains pending.

Judge Sipra observed that if the high court accepted the petition, proceedings before the ATC could come to an end. However, defence counsel stressed the need to ensure a fair trial, arguing that the defence lacked clarity about the alleged incident and where it had taken place.

The hearing also focused on difficulties faced by the couple while attending proceedings through a video link. Imaan and Hadi complained that their voices were repeatedly breaking up, making communication difficult. Their lawyer questioned how the case could proceed effectively if the accused could not communicate properly with the court and their legal representatives.

The judge noted that anti-terrorism law requires trials to proceed on a day-to-day basis. When asked about the remaining prosecution evidence, the prosecutor informed the court that nine witnesses were yet to be examined. The judge subsequently directed the prosecution to ensure that the couple could consult their lawyers.

Hadi also objected to being presented through a video link instead of appearing physically in court. He argued that the arrangement raised serious concerns about their right to a fair trial, adding that he and Imaan had spent eight months in jail while struggling to pursue their defence.

He further questioned the confidentiality of legal consultations, claiming that cameras had been installed in the designated meeting area inside the prison. According to Hadi, this arrangement made it difficult for the couple to discuss their case privately with their lawyers.

The court adjourned further proceedings until October 14.

In a separate development during the hearing, Judge Sipra questioned inconsistencies in reports submitted by Adiala jail authorities regarding Imaan’s appearance through a video link in different cases.

The court noted that Imaan had been presented through a video link in the security-barrier case on October 10. However, a report submitted in a separate case involving former MNA Ali Wazir stated that she could not be produced through a video link on the same date because of a lack of internet connectivity.

The judge expressed concern over the contradictory reports and questioned whether jail officials had properly reviewed the documents before submitting them to the court.

The ATC issued a fresh show-cause notice to the jail authorities over the discrepancy and directed them to produce Imaan through a video link in the related case on October 19.