ISLAMABAD: A local court on Friday, expressing displeasure over the non-execution of arrest warrants against human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari and her husband, Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, reissued the warrants and granted the police and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) 24 hours ultimatum to arrest the accused in a controversial tweet case.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka, while hearing a case registered under Sections 9, 10, 11 and 26-A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), directed authorities to arrest the couple within 24 hours and produce them before the court on Saturday (today).The court ordered Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Muhammad Jawad Tariq and the in-charge of NCCIA’s Cyber Crime Reporting Centres (CCRC) to assign officers not below the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy Director, respectively, to ensure execution of the court orders.
During the hearing, the judge questioned the police about the whereabouts of the accused and expressed anger over their failure to secure the arrests. The court subsequently summoned the DIG Operations and Director General of NCCIA to explain the delay.
Later, the DIG Operations and Director NCCIA appeared before the court. The judge asked the officials why the arrest warrants were not executed so far. The NCCIA director informed the court that a four-member team was formed, but the accused were not present at their listed addresses and were deliberately hiding.
Expressing dissatisfaction, the judge remarked that if suspects cannot be arrested in Islamabad, it would be difficult to apprehend them in other provinces such as Balochistan. He stressed that the court wants immediate compliance with its orders. The judge also questioned why Prosecutor Sheikh Aamir Sohail repeatedly failed to appear in court and ordered that he be removed from proceedings before this court.
Investigation Officer (IO) Imran Haider informed the court that the accused could not be arrested as they are absconding. The NCCIA officials stated that teams are actively conducting raids and requested to grant time.
The court issued fresh arrest warrants for Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha and directed the DIG Operations to ensure their execution.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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