Social media posts case: Court reserves judgement in Imaan, Hadi application regarding DG ISPR

Lawyer and rights activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, submitted an application in court seeking to summon the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general (DG ISPR) as a witness in a case registered against them over their social media posts.

On Wednesday, the two accused submitted a written application to Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka during the hearing of the case, referring to a press conference addressed by the military spokesperson on January 6. The application said the press briefing was broadcast “on all national media, and the content is readily available online”. During the press conference, “references were made to matters directly pending trial before this learned court”.

“This is the exact prosecution case that is pending adjudication before this learned court,” the application said.

In the case, registered with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (Peca), Mazari and Chattha have been accused of inciting divisions on linguistic grounds through social media posts and creating the impression that the armed forces were engaged in terrorism within the country.

During the hearing of the case, Hadi Chattah demanded that DG ISPR Ahmed Sharif should be summoned. Judge Afzal Majoka questioned why court summon all who talk about the case? Advocate Iman Mazari contended that “We have been accused by the army spokesman”.

During the press conference on January 6, DG ISPR showed their Twitter handle to the media, said Hadi Ali Chatha. “It was said that Iman Mazari promotes and supports terrorists”, Hadi Ali Chatha told the court therefore GD ISPR should be summoned in the court as witness.

Advocate Chattah told the court that being spokesperson of Armed Forces, DG ISPR was not a common man.

Judge Afzal Majoka said that prosecution cannot be forced to present certain witness.

“If the court rejects the application, it should be written that no person holding any position should influence this case by speaking”, Hadi Chatha requested the court.

Iman Mazari broadcasted a specific part of DG ISPR's press conference in court and said that “DG ISPR showed my tweet in his press conference”.

Iman Mazari told the court that “DG ISPR called me a supporter of terrorists. DG ISPR should come to the court and record his statement instead of making a press conference”.

The prosecution opposed the request of the accused to summon the DG ISPR to the court and said that DG ISPR did not mention Iman Mazari's name anywhere in the press conference. Prosecutor said that ISPR chief cannot be summoned in this case.

Later the court reserved its decision on the request of Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha to summon the DG ISPR to the court.

Later the hearing of the case was adjourned till January 8.