An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday framed charges against lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha in a case concerning the alleged removal of barricades, despite defence objections that required legal procedures had not been completed.
Judge Tahir Abbas Supra conducted the hearing, with Mazari and Chattha appearing through video link.
The defence argued that the accused had not been provided copies of the case documents. Chattha maintained that charges could not legally be framed before the necessary documentation had been supplied.
Defence lawyer Zainab Janjua raised a similar objection, telling the court that neither Mazari nor Chattha had received the relevant copies or been permitted to meet their lawyers.
“The court cannot frame charges without fulfilling all legal requirements,” Janjua said.
The court proceeded to frame the charges, with Judge Supra telling the defence: “You can challenge this order.”
Janjua also told the court that she had waited outside the jail for two hours but was unable to meet her clients despite an earlier court order. She questioned why Mazari and Chattha were appearing remotely when other prisoners were being brought to court from Adiala Jail.
“I have the jail authorities’ reports with me,” Judge Supra responded.
The court subsequently directed authorities to physically produce Mazari and Chattha at the next hearing and summoned prosecution witnesses for October 9.
Dr Shireen Mazari was also present at the hearing, alongside lawyers including Eemal Khan Mandokhail and Janjua. Prosecutor Raja Naveed represented the prosecution.
Separately, the pair’s bail applications had been adjourned until October 13 at an earlier hearing after the investigating officer failed to appear. Defence lawyers have maintained that all provisions in the FIR, apart from the terrorism charge, are bailable.
The barricades case remains before the court, with the next hearing scheduled for October 9.