ISLAMABAD: Human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari, her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, and their lawyers on Wednesday boycotted the proceedings of a case registered against them after the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) started recording witness statements despite the defence lawyer’s request to record the testimonies after meeting with their clients.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, while hearing the case registered against the couple pertaining to allegations of violating a security protocol and assaulting police personnel, adjourned the hearing of the case till Thursday (today) after recording statements of three prosecution witnesses.
The jail authorities produced both Imaan and Chatha via video link in the case registered at the Secretariat Police Station. The case was registered against the couple on October 29, 2023, after they allegedly removed road barriers during the England cricket team’s visit.
During the hearing, defence counsel Eemal Khan Mandokhail told the court that we went to Adiala Jail to meet their clients, but could not meet. He said that Tuesday was the designated day for the meeting of the incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan’s lawyers that led to road blockade. We have requested the authorities to let us meet our clients as per the court order but our meeting was not facilitated, he said.
The court staff informed the judge that jail authorities told us that the accused would be produced before it through video link. The judge remarked that the report of police and jail authorities has been submitted before the court. The judge said that jail authorities stated that a special vehicle for the production of the accused was not available.
Prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kiyani requested the court to record statements of witnesses. The judge remarked that court has to record statement of witnesses today and cross examination of the witnesses will be conducted later.
Defence lawyer and Dr Shireen Mazari left the court room after the court started recording statements of the witnesses. Following the departure of counsel and Dr Shireen Mazari both the accused also left the video link proceedings. After recording the statements of three prosecution witnesses, the court summoned more witnesses for recording their statements and adjourned the hearing of the case till Thursday (today).
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026