ATC orders jail access to lawyers for Imaan Mazari...

Summary

• Imaan and Hadi attended the hearing through a video link, while Imaan’s mother, former human rights minister Dr Shireen Mazari, appeared in court alongside members of the defence team.
• The court noted that Imaan had been presented through a video link in the security-barrier case on October 10.
• The ATC issued a fresh show-cause notice to the jail authorities over the discrepancy and directed them to produce Imaan through a video link in the related case on October 19.

AI Generated Summary

An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) has directed jail authorities to allow human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, to meet their legal team in prison. The order came after the couple raised concerns about access to their lawyers, confidential consultations and the fairness of proceedings in a case involving the alleged removal of security barriers.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra issued the directions during a hearing on Monday. He ordered jail authorities to facilitate meetings between the couple and their lawyers, Advocates Riasat Ali Azad, Zainab Janjua and Aimal Khan.

Imaan and Hadi attended the hearing through a video link, while Imaan’s mother, former human rights minister Dr Shireen Mazari, appeared in court alongside members of the defence team.

The couple was indicted on October 7 in a case involving allegations of disrupting the security route of an international cricket team and inciting public unrest. On October 10, the court dismissed their petition seeking the removal of terrorism charges. The defence has challenged that decision before the Islamabad High Court and requested an adjournment while the matter remains pending.