Court cancels bail of Imaan Mazari, husband in tweets case
Pakistan
Hadi Chattha appeared before the court and informed the judge that Imaan Mazari wished to personally cross-examine the prosecution witness
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Thursday cancelled the bail of lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, in the controversial tweets case, ordering their arrest and production before the court.
The hearing was presided over by Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Mujoka.
During the proceedings, Hadi Ali Chattha appeared before the court and informed the judge that Imaan Mazari wished to personally cross-examine prosecution witness Shehroz and intended to put questions to him herself.
Judge Mujoka directed that the cross-examination of the witness be completed, warning that failure to do so would result in the termination of the accused persons’ right to cross-examine.
Islamabad District Bar Association President Advocate Chaudhry Naeem Gujjar also appeared before the court and requested that the next hearing be fixed for Monday, assuring the court that no further adjournment would be sought.
He told the court that Imaan Mazari was unwell but still wanted to conduct the cross-examination in person.
The prosecution, however, opposed the request for adjournment.
Imaan Mazari's husband Hadi Chattha arrested in controversial tweet case
Prosecutor Rana Usman argued that the court should administer the oath to the witness and commence cross-examination immediately.
The disagreement escalated into a sharp verbal exchange between Naeem Gujjar and the prosecutor, during which harsh words were exchanged in the court.
As tensions intensified, Judge Mujoka went to his chamber, ordering a temporary adjournment of the proceedings.
After the recess, neither Imaan Mazari nor Hadi Ali Chattha appeared before the court.
Taking a serious view of the situation and the continued absence of the accused, the court cancelled the bail of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, terminated their right to cross-examine the witness, and ordered their arrest and production before the court.
Mazari and Chattha are facing trial in a case registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency under Sections 9, 10, 11 and 26 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, and were indicted on October 30.
