Imaan Mazari case: ATC issues contempt notice to Adiala Jail superintendent

ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday issued a contempt of court notice to the superintendent of Adiala Jail in a case against human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, for failing to facilitate the signing and transmission of the powers of attorney of both accused and produce them via video link despite court orders.

During the previous hearing, the court had directed the Adiala Jail authorities to obtain the powers of attorney of both accused from the sessions court, enter them in the official register, have them signed by the accused, who were seeking bail, and provide them to their lawyers. The court had also directed the authorities to produce both accused through video link.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, while hearing the case, issued the contempt notice to the superintendent of Adiala Jail. Defence lawyers, including Riasat Ali Azad and Zainab Janjua, appeared before the court.

According to the written order, during the last hearing, directions were issued to produce the accused in person or procure their attendance through video link for the purpose of providing copies under Section 265-C of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.P.C.).

“Despite awaiting, the accused have not been produced from jail, and their attendance through video link has not been procured,” the order said.

It said the court staff had contacted the jail authorities, who cited a fault in internet services as the reason for the failure to produce the accused through video link. “As a matter of fact, no written report has been submitted in this regard, and no representative/official of the Jail Superintendent has joined the proceedings,” the order added.

The order said the conduct of the superintendent of the jail “tantamount to causing obstruction in the process of the court and disobedience to the lawful directions issued.”

“In view of that, a show-cause notice is issued under Section 37 of the ATA, 1997 as to why he should not be convicted for a term of six months as provided under the section referred to above for causing contempt of court,” the order said.

During the hearing, neither the jail superintendent nor the deputy superintendent appeared before the court. Similarly, the couple was not produced before the court through video link despite the court’s orders. The judge sought an explanation from the superintendent of Adiala Jail as to why he should not be sentenced to six months in prison for non-compliance with the court’s orders.

“Do not push the court, or yourself, against the wall,” the judge said while addressing the jail superintendent.

The judge observed that receiving and signing a power of attorney was a fundamental right of an accused.

The court issued the contempt notice to the superintendent of Adiala Jail and adjourned the hearing until October 2.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026