ATC reserves verdict in security breach case against Imaan Mazari, Hadi Ali Chattha

RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday completed the trial of human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in a case related to the alleged removal of security barriersin Islamabad, reserving its verdict for October 29.

Earlier, the anti-terrorism court appointed a state counsel to represent Imaan Zainab Mazari and Chatta after their legal team refused to cross-examine prosecution witnesses in a high-profile security breach trial

The latest trial was conducted at Adiala jail, where both accused recorded their statements under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which allows an accused to respond to the evidence presented against them.

The state-appointed counsel also completed final arguments, after which the court reserved its decision.

The case concerns allegations that Imaan and Hadi removed barriers placed along the security route of an international cricket team and disrupted official duties. The prosecution has also accused them of inciting public unrest.

Background of the case

An anti-terrorism court formally indicted Imaan and Hadi on October 7.

Both opposed the charges, arguing that they had not been provided copies of the case record and had not been allowed to meet their lawyers before the proceedings. The court proceeded with the indictment despite their objections.

The case was subsequently tried inside Adiala jail under ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra. The proceedings followed disputes over the accused’s production before the court and their access to legal counsel.

The prosecution’s witnesses were examined during the trial, but defence lawyers did not complete their cross-examination within the court’s scheduled proceedings.

The court appointed a state counsel to cross-examine the witnesses, later replacing Taimoor Janjua with Atif Mehmood after objections to the former’s appointment and conduct.

The state-appointed counsel completed the cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses on October 23. The court subsequently directed the accused to record their statements under Section 342 of the CrPC.

Legal challenges

Imaan and Hadi have challenged aspects of the trial before the Islamabad High Court (IHC), including the framing of charges, the inclusion of terrorism-related provisions and the proceedings being held inside Adiala jail.

On October 19, the IHC took up their appeals against the ATC’s rejection of their petitions challenging the charges. The defence also sought to prevent the trial court from delivering its verdict until a petition seeking transfer of the case to another court was decided.

On October 26, the couple approached the Supreme Court to challenge an IHC order refusing to stay the trial.

The ATC’s decision, now reserved for October 29, concerns the barrier-removal case and is separate from another case involving controversial social media posts.

A trial court sentenced Imaan and Hadi to 17 years in prison each in January 2026 under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).

The Supreme Court suspended those sentences and ordered their release on bail on September 17, but they were rearrested hours later in connection with another case.