‘Won’t ask forced questions’: Lawyer for Imaan Mazari, husband refuses cross-examination

By Nadir Baloch

ISLAMABAD: A state-appointed lawyer for human rights activist and lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chatha on Tuesday refused to cross-examine prosecution witnesses in the controversial tweet case, telling the court he could not ask questions “imposed” on him.

During the hearing before Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Mujoka, the court-appointed counsel (state counsel), Advocate Shakeel Jutt, informed the judge that he had been approached only the previous day around 4pm to represent Mazari and Chatha.

He said that he was not given the case file in time and learned only at the last moment that he was expected to conduct the cross-examination.

Advocate Jutt told the court he had been handed 15 to 20 questions with instructions to ask them during today’s cross-examination, but no relevant details or context had been provided.

Addressing the judge, he said that he could not proceed under such circumstances and did not want to become an obstacle to a fair trial.

He stressed that he believed in due process and could not ask predetermined questions forced upon him, adding that his conscience did not allow it. Every accused person, he said, is entitled under the Constitution to a fair and impartial trial.

He requested the court to grant him adequate time to prepare before he cross-examines the witnesses, saying he could not fulfil his professional responsibilities without reviewing the case file.

The judge accepted his request and adjourned the hearing until November 27.

Earlier, Imaan Mazari alleged that the court had forcibly appointed a state counsel for her and her husband.

It is worth noting that Mazari and Chatha were indicted on October 30, a day after Hadi Ali Chatha was arrested outside the courtroom for not appearing before the court.