ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad today indicted lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha. The court indicted them in a case involving alleged disruption of the security route of an international cricket team and incitement to public unrest.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra conducted the proceedings, during which both accused appeared through video link.
During the hearing, Hadi Chattha objected to the framing of charges, saying he had not received copies of the case documents. He argued that the court should not proceed with the indictment until all required legal formalities had been completed.
Their lawyer, Advocate Zainab Janjua, also opposed the charges. She said neither accused had received copies of the case record or been allowed to meet their lawyers, claiming that the legal requirements for framing charges had therefore not been fulfilled.
Despite the defence objections, the court proceeded with the formal indictment. Judge Sipra told the accused that they could challenge the order if they wished. The court subsequently summoned prosecution witnesses for October 9 and directed authorities to produce both accused at the next hearing.
The indictment hearing had earlier been postponed after a power outage prevented the accused from appearing through video link. The judge had directed jail authorities to ensure their presence at the next hearing.
The case relates to allegations arising from security arrangements during the visit of an international cricket team to Islamabad in October 2024. The indictment marks the formal beginning of the trial and does not constitute a finding of guilt.
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