ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Thursday revoked the bail of lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, in a high-profile case related to a controversial tweet. The court also ended the couple’s right to cross-examine witnesses in the ongoing trial.
Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka ordered the immediate arrest of both accused and their production before the court. Statements under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure are scheduled to be recorded on Friday.
Mazari and Chattha are facing charges under Sections 9, 10, 11, and 26 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016, following a case registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). They were formally indicted on October 30.
During Thursday’s hearing, Imaan Mazari failed to appear in court. Her defense counsel requested exemption from personal appearance citing medical reasons, but the judge expressed strong displeasure and warned that failure to appear could result in forfeiting the right to cross-examine witnesses.
Both Mazari and Chattha did not attend when the hearing resumed, prompting the court to terminate their right to cross-examination. The defense had argued that Imaan wished to personally cross-examine a key witness, Shehroz, in the next hearing, but the court insisted the process must proceed without delay.
President of the Islamabad District Bar Association, Advocate Chaudhry Naeem Gujjar, appeared in court and requested that the next hearing be scheduled for Monday, assuring no further adjournments would be sought. However, the prosecution opposed the delay, urging immediate administration of the oath to the witness and continuation of cross-examination.
The disagreement led to a heated exchange between Bar President Naeem Gujjar and Prosecutor Rana Usman, prompting Judge Majoka to temporarily leave the courtroom for his chambers as the situation escalated.
Moreover, A district court on Wednesday ruled that the prosecution cannot be compelled to present any particular witness during trial proceedings. The observation was made while hearing an application filed by lawyer Imaan Mazari in the controversial tweets case.
Mazari had requested the court to summon Director General ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry as a witness. The case involves allegations against Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.
District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka said that summoning witnesses is the discretion of the prosecution. He observed that courts cannot force the prosecution to produce any individual as a witness.
The court issued a notice to the prosecution on Mazari’s application. The judge directed the prosecution to submit a response before any decision is taken. He also noted that he had not personally watched the press conference referred to in the application.
In her plea, Mazari argued that remarks allegedly made by the military spokesperson during a press briefing influenced public opinion. She claimed the statements affected her right to a fair trial while the case was still pending.
Mazari alleged that she was labelled a “lawyer for traitors” and a “foreign agent” during the briefing. She maintained that such remarks violated Article 10-A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair trial. She also argued that the comments interfered with judicial proceedings.
