ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday formally indicted lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in a case concerning an alleged security breach during the visit of an international cricket team in 2024.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra framed charges against the couple in the case registered at Aabpara Police Station. Mazari and Chattha appeared before the court through video link.
The defence opposed the framing of charges, with Chattha telling the court that he had not been provided copies of the relevant case documents.
“I have not even received the copies yet,” he said, arguing that charges could not legally be framed before completion of the required formalities.
Defence lawyer Zainab Janjua also maintained that the accused had neither received the necessary documents nor been given an opportunity to meet their lawyers.
She argued that the court should not proceed with the indictment until all legal requirements had been fulfilled.
Judge Sipra told the defence that the order could be challenged and directed that Mazari and Chattha be brought before the court in person at the next hearing.
The court subsequently adjourned proceedings until October 9.
The couple has remained in custody since their arrest on January 23 in connection with a separate case registered over a protest outside the Islamabad High Court.
A day after their arrest, a sessions court sentenced them to 17 years in prison on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) over controversial social media posts.
On September 17, the Supreme Court suspended their sentences and granted them bail against surety bonds of Rs200,000 each pending a final decision by the Islamabad High Court in the case involving the disputed tweets.
Their release, however, was brief. Islamabad police arrested the couple again within hours and presented them before an ATC in connection with another case.
According to the FIR, Mazari and Chattha were accused of raising anti-government slogans and obstructing roads during a protest.
