ATC postpones indictment of Imaan Mazari, Hadi Chattha

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has postponed the indictment of lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in a security breach case.

The court was scheduled to frame charges against the two lawyers in a case registered at Aabpara Police Station. They are accused of disrupting the security route of an international cricket team and allegedly inciting public unrest.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra presided over the hearing. Prosecutor Raja Naveed appeared before the court, while junior lawyers represented Mazari and Chattha in the absence of their lead counsel.

The defence lawyers requested more time, saying the lead counsels were engaged in proceedings at the High Court. They also sought copies of the case challan and a new date for the indictment.

The judge noted that copies of the challan had already been provided and said the court was ready to frame charges. A junior lawyer, however, raised concerns about being unable to meet the accused.

The proceedings were briefly adjourned before the court resumed the hearing. However, the indictment could not take place because the accused could not appear through video link due to a power outage at Adiala Jail.

The court subsequently directed jail authorities to ensure that both accused appear through video link at the next hearing. Judge Sipra also warned that contempt proceedings could be initiated if the authorities failed to comply with the order.

The indictment proceedings have now been fixed for Wednesday.