An Islamabad sessions court on Friday ordered the arrest of human rights activist Imaan Mazari Advocate and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha Advocate, within twenty-four hours in the controversial tweets case, expressing severe displeasure over the police’s failure to produce the two accused despite the issuance of arrest warrants.
Judge Afzal Majoka sharply questioned police officials after both Mazari and Chattha were not presented before the court, 24NewsHD TV channel reported.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Islamabad Police, Jawad Tariq, appeared before the court, where the state counsel representing Mazari and Chattha submitted their responses under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
Judge Majoka confronted the DIG, asking why the arrest warrants had not been executed.
“The warrant was issued, but why was it not implemented? Bring them from Pakistan, India, or Afghanistan if needed. You have twenty-four hours. I want compliance with the warrant, whether they are on land, sea, or air. If the warrants are not executed, I will initiate contempt proceedings,” the judge warned.
DIG Jawad Tariq assured the court that the warrants would be implemented, responding, “Okay, fine, the warrants will be executed.”
Following the assurance, the court adjourned the hearing until 10 am, directing the DIG Operations and the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) director to appear in person at the next session.
Prosecutors from the National Counter Terrorism Authority Cyber Investigation Agency (NCCIA) were present in court; however, neither Mazari nor Chattha appeared for the hearing.
Mazari, Chatha challenge trial court's arrest warrants in IHC
In a parallel development to the ongoing proceedings in the controversial tweets case, Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha on Friday challenged their arrest warrants and the trial court’s order terminating their right to defence before the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The petitioners urged the court to immediately suspend the arrest warrants issued against them and restrain the police from carrying out any detention. They further requested that the January 15 order, through which the trial court struck down their right to present a defence, be declared void.
According to the petition, Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka had issued arrest warrants for Mazari and Chatha and simultaneously ended their right to defence, directing the state-appointed counsel to record the defendants’ statements under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The petition noted that the state counsel had already submitted the Section 342 statement before the trial court earlier today.
The petitioners argued that the trial court’s directives were unlawful, excessive, and in violation of their fundamental right to a fair trial, urging the IHC to intervene and restore due legal process.
Reporters: Hashar Warriach and Ehtisham Kiani