ISLAMABAD: A local court on Wednesday kept pending a petition filed by human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari and her husband, Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha’s petition seeking the summoning of Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry in a tweet case registered against them.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka, following hearing arguments of both sides, ruled that the stage of summoning witnesses will come at the time of recording the accused persons’ statements under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
The court further observed that it would determine at that stage of recording statements of accused whether the petition seeking to summon the DG ISPR is relevant or not. Until the recording of the statements under Section 342, the application seeking to summon the DG ISPR will remain pending, the judge further said.
The application, filed under Section 540 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), claims remarks made by Lt. Gen. Chaudhry on January 6, 2026, touched on matters currently under adjudication and could influence the ongoing criminal trial.
During the hearing, Chattha argued that DG ISPR should be summoned. To this, the judge said that whether anyone who comments regarding this case would be summoned to court. The judge also remarked that the prosecution cannot be compelled regarding whom it presents as a witness.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case until Thursday (today).
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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