Imaan Mazari, Hadi Chattha bail case adjourned until November 3

An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday summoned the Islamabad inspector general of police (IGP) for the November 3 hearing of post-arrest bail petitions filed by Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha.

The court also issued show-cause notices to a superintendent of police (SP) and a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) over the investigating officer’s repeated absence and failure to produce the case record.

Judge Abul Hasanat Muhammad Zulqarnain heard the petitions in a case related to protests and interference in official duties in Islamabad.

Lawyers Raja Ali Azad and Eimal Khan Mandokhail appeared for the accused, while Special Public Prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain represented the prosecution. When questioned about the investigating officer’s absence, the court was informed that he had travelled to Gilgit-Baltistan and had not returned.

Advocate Azad told the court that the bail petition had been filed on October 29 and notices had already been issued, but proceedings remained stalled because the investigating officer had not produced the record.

He argued that another police official could have brought the documents, as had happened in similar cases, and questioned how long the court would continue waiting.

He also maintained that the accused did not require physical remand and that the charges against them were bailable, while urging the court to consider the addition of Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The lawyers also referred to judicial policy, arguing that bail petitions should be decided within four to five days. They expressed concern that the continued delay could create the impression that the petitions would remain pending until the accused were convicted in another case. Advocate Aleem Abbasi urged the court to decide the matter on merit, while Advocate Zafar Khokhar questioned the legal basis for the investigating officer taking the case record away during a court vacation.

Responding to the situation, Judge Zulqarnain warned that the SP and DSP could face proceedings leading to imprisonment if the record was not presented at the next hearing. The court issued show-cause notices to both officers and directed the Islamabad IGP to appear on November 3. The hearing was subsequently adjourned until that date.

Separately, the court ordered the discharge of workers arrested in connection with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march from the cases registered against them. It also granted bail to Jammu Kashmir Democratic Party Chairperson and lawyer Nabeela Irshad against surety bonds of Rs5,000.