An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has summoned the capital’s inspector general of police for a hearing on November 3 after repeated failures by the investigating officer to appear before the court and submit the case record in the bail proceedings of 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), warning that the officers could face legal proceedings, including possible imprisonment, if the required documents were not produced at the next hearing.
ATC Judge Abul Hasanat Muhammad Zulqarnain issued the directions on Saturday while hearing post-arrest bail applications filed by Mazari and Chattha in a case concerning protests and alleged interference with official duties in Islamabad.
Defence lawyers Raja Ali Azad and Eimal Khan Mandokhail represented the petitioners, while Special Public Prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain appeared on behalf of the prosecution.
During the proceedings, the judge questioned the prosecutor about the investigating officer’s continued absence and demanded an explanation for the failure to present the case record.
The court’s reader informed the judge that the investigating officer had travelled to Gilgit-Baltistan and had not yet returned.
The judge subsequently directed that the SP investigation be summoned.
Islamabad Bar Council Vice Chairman Advocate Asif Irfan also raised concerns over the delay, observing that the court possessed the authority to demand the record but had still been unable to obtain it.
Advocate Azad informed the court that the bail applications had been submitted on October 29, after which notices were issued. However, he argued that the proceedings had remained stalled because the investigating officer repeatedly failed to appear.
He pointed out that in similar cases, other police officials had produced the relevant documents when the assigned investigating officer was unavailable.
“How long would the court wait for the record?” Azad asked.
Presenting further arguments, the defence lawyer referred to an earlier court order stating that physical remand of the accused was unnecessary.
He also maintained that the charges against his clients were bailable, while noting that Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) had subsequently been included in the case.
Azad urged the court to determine the bail applications in accordance with the law rather than allowing further delays caused by the prosecution’s failure to provide the necessary documents.
The court directed the relevant police authorities to ensure that the case record was presented at the next hearing, scheduled for November 3.
The bail applications remain pending, with the court yet to issue a decision on whether Mazari and Chattha should be released.