ATC Indicts Imaan Mazari, Hadi Ali Chattha in Barrier Removal Case
Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra summons prosecution witnesses for October 9 as defence raises objections over access to clients and provision of case documents.
ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad anti-terrorism court on October 7 formally framed charges against lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha in a case concerning the alleged removal of security barriers and disruption of an official security route, setting October 9 for the prosecution to begin presenting witnesses.
Defence Raises Procedural Objections
Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra presided over the proceedings, while Mazari and Chattha were produced before the court through video link. Prosecutor Raja Naveed appeared for the prosecution, while members of the defence team, including Advocate Zainab Janjua, were present in court.
During the hearing, Chattha objected to the framing of charges, telling the court that he had yet to receive copies of the relevant case documents. He argued that charges should not be formally framed until the required legal formalities had been completed.
Advocate Zainab Janjua also raised procedural objections. She told the court that neither Mazari nor Chattha had received the required copies and alleged that their lawyers had not been permitted to meet them despite an earlier court direction. Janjua maintained that the indictment should not proceed until those requirements had been fulfilled.
Court Summons Prosecution Witnesses
The court, however, proceeded with the framing of charges. During an exchange with the defence, Judge Sipra said the order could be challenged through the appropriate legal forum. The court then summoned prosecution witnesses for October 9 and directed authorities to produce Mazari and Chattha before the court at the next hearing.
The indictment proceedings had been delayed a day earlier after the two could not be produced through video link because of a power outage at Adiala Jail. At that hearing, the court had directed jail authorities to ensure their video-link appearance and also ordered that they be facilitated in meeting their lawyers.
Case Dates Back to 2024 Incident
The case traces back to an October 2024 incident in Islamabad, when security barriers had been placed near Zero Point for the movement of the visiting England cricket team. Police alleged that Mazari and Chattha interfered with official duties and attempted to remove barriers. The two were arrested on October 28, 2024, and the case included allegations under the Anti-Terrorism Act and several provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code. They were subsequently granted bail in that matter.
The next hearing is now scheduled for October 9, when prosecution witnesses are expected to appear and the evidentiary phase of the proceedings is set to move forward.
Legal context: Framing of charges is a procedural stage of a criminal trial and does not constitute a finding of guilt. The allegations against Mazari and Chattha remain subject to evidence, defence arguments and final determination by the competent courts.
