ISLAMABAD: A local court on Thursday suspended the non-bailable arrest warrants issued for human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari and her spouse, Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, after the couple appeared before the court in a case about their alleged controversial tweet.
Hearing the case registered against the couple under Sections 9, 10, 11, and 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) over alleged anti-state remarks made on social media, Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka suspended arrest warrants for Imaan and Chattha and adjourned the hearing of the case until November 8.
Earlier, Mazari and Chatha appeared before the court. During the proceedings, Mazari requested the court to grant her time to appoint a lawyer, while the prosecution opposed any further delay, urging the court to record witness statements through a state-appointed counsel.
The court, after hearing arguments of both sides, reserved its order until 12:15 pm and announced a short break.
When the hearing resumed, lawyer Samiullah Wazir submitted the power of attorney on behalf of Chatha.
Mazari once again requested the court to grant her time to formally appoint her lawyer. Judge Afzal Majoka directed her to submit her lawyer’s power of attorney by Saturday.
Expressing concern over the pace of the proceedings, Mazari told the court that the way this case is being rushed violates our rights. We are being punished for speaking the truth, she said.
The judge responded that the charges had already been read out three times in the presence of the defence lawyers.
Meanwhile, Chatha requested the court to dismiss the state-appointed counsel, stating that his lawyer has now arrived.
The judge said that the state counsel was not appointed by the court, but by a committee, and therefore only that committee could remove them. The judge directed both parties to present arguments regarding the state counsel’s appointment during the next hearing to be held on November 8, after which a decision is expected to be announced.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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