Islamabad anti-terrorism court returns Mazari and Chattha’s petitions — Dawn
An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad, Pakistan, returned the bail petitions of lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha in a protest case registered at the Kohsar police station. The reason was the absence of signed powers of attorney authorizing representation of their interests in court.
As Dawn reports, Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra also issued notices to the Adiala jail administration following a separate application by the defence. Mazari and Chattha’s lawyers said that prison staff had not facilitated obtaining the detainees’ signatures on the required documents.
Application regarding the prison administration
Lawyer Zainab Janjua said she had tried to complete the paperwork on Friday and Saturday and had met with officials at Adiala jail. According to her, the administration insisted on following the official procedure. The defence stressed that the detainees have the right to engage lawyers.
The judge asked whether the powers of attorney had been attested. Lawyer Asif Tamboli suggested that the court retain the documents and arrange for their verification itself. Sipra said he would determine why prison staff had not facilitated the signing of the documents and asked the prosecutor about compliance with the established procedure.
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Imaan Mazari’s mother, Dr Shireen Mazari, told the court that both lawyers had been detained in the office of the deputy superintendent of the prison for legal affairs. She also alleged that physical violence had been used against them during their detention.
Previous conviction and re-arrest
In January, Mazari and Chattha were sentenced to 17 years in prison on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act in a case involving controversial social media posts. Last week, the Supreme Court suspended the sentences and ordered their release on bail against surety bonds of 200,000 Pakistani rupees each pending a final decision by the Islamabad High Court on their appeals.
A few hours later, Islamabad police re-arrested the couple in a case registered on March 22 last year. They were accused of chanting anti-government slogans and blocking roads, after which the anti-terrorism court remanded them in judicial custody. At the time the case was registered, it did not contain provisions under anti-terrorism legislation.
