Key Takeaways
- An anti-terrorism court summoned the Islamabad police chief and two officials over the failure to produce case records.
- The case involves alleged disruption of a security route for an international cricket team and incitement to public unrest.
- The court expressed displeasure over the continued absence of the investigating officer and warned officials of potential imprisonment.
An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has summoned the city’s police chief and issued show-cause notices to two police officials over the failure to produce case records in the security breach case against lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha.
The case pertains to the alleged disruption of a security route for an international cricket team and incitement to public unrest, with the couple accused of removing barriers from the route.
During the hearing, ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain directed the two police officials to explain their failure to ensure the production of the record and warned that they could face imprisonment if the document was not presented before the court.
The court expressed displeasure over the continued absence of the investigating officer, who had travelled to Gilgit-Baltistan and had not returned. The judge immediately summoned the superintendent (investigation) to explain the situation.
Advocate Riasat Ali Azad, representing the accused, informed the court that the bail application had been filed on October 29 last year and notices had already been issued, but the proceedings could not move forward because the investigating officer failed to appear with the record.
Advocate Asif Irfan, vice chairman of the Islamabad Bar Council, observed that the court was not powerless but had so far been unable to ensure the production of the record.
Advocate Aleem Abbasi urged the judge to exercise his authority and decide the matter on merit, questioning how lawyers could secure justice for their own children if the judicial system failed to deliver it.
Judge Zulqarnain expressed displeasure over the tone adopted by some lawyers, deeming such conduct inappropriate and remarking that he was not influenced by vlogs or commentary and always conducted proceedings impartially.
SP Khurram Ashraf and Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Naeem Yousuf appeared before the court and informed the judge that the investigating officer had travelled to Khaplu and would appear after he returned.
The judge questioned the arrangement and asked when the officer would return, observing that everyone was waiting while the court had a case to decide. DSP Yousuf said the investigating officer could take another 10 to 15 days to return.
The judge criticised the police for their handling of the case and warned that the court would not wait indefinitely for the record to be produced.
The court expressed displeasure over the continued absence of the investigating officer and raised questions about the whereabouts of the case record.
ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain, ATC Judge
Advocate Riasat Ali Azad, representing the accused, told the court that the bail application had been filed on October 29 last year and notices had already been issued, but the proceedings could not move forward because the investigating officer failed to appear with the record.
Advocate Riasat Ali Azad, Advocate
