Islamabad court summons Imaan Mazari, Hadi Ali in PECA tweets case

The District and Sessions Court in Islamabad on Monday issued summons for human rights activist Advocate Imaan Mazari and her husband, Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, in the controversial tweets case, following the submission of a challan by the prosecution.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the court sent notices to both lawyers to appear on September 17, with Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah set to conduct the trial. At the next hearing, copies of the challan will be formally provided to the accused.

The National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had registered the case against Mazari and Chattha under multiple sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), including sections 9, 10, 11, and 26-A, accusing them of posting anti-state comments on social media on September 8. Both were granted pre-arrest bail by an Additional Sessions Judge last week.

According to the FIR text, Imaan Mazari is alleged to have stirred linguistic hatred, held the establishment responsible for enforced disappearances in KP and Balochistan, and accused it of having links with banned outfits, questioning its ability to counter groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The case has been unfolding alongside another courtroom controversy. On September 11, Mazari exchanged heated words with Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar during proceedings in the case of detained Baloch nationalist Dr Mahrang Baloch. The IHC CJ warned her of possible contempt of court after she allegedly referred to him as a “dictator”.

Following the incident, on Sept 13, Mazari formally requested the court registrar to preserve CCTV footage of the exchange and provide her a copy, submitting a USB drive along with her application.

Reporter: Ehtisham Kiyani