APP
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Thursday sought an explanation from police officials for failing to produce Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha in the barrier-removal case, while the police requested that their trial be conducted in jail.
Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra directed authorities to explain the reasons for the accused not being brought to court. The court later allowed Mazari and Chattha to appear through video link and adjourned the hearing until tomorrow, directing lawyers and witnesses to appear at Adiala Jail for the next hearing.
During the proceedings, defence counsel Aimal Khan Mandokhail and Riasat Ali Azad appeared before the court. Mandokhail submitted an affidavit detailing difficulties he said he had faced while meeting his clients at Adiala Jail.
Riasat Ali Azad told the court that Mandokhail had not been allowed to take the case record into the meeting, adding that although the meeting had taken place, an effective discussion about the case had not been possible.
Judge asked the defence what kind of arrangements it wanted and questioned jail authorities over the absence of a report explaining why the accused had not been produced. He warned that senior police officials could be summoned if no report was submitted.
When the hearing resumed, the judge ordered SP Headquarters to appear within 15 minutes.
The court was informed that jail authorities had written to Islamabad Police seeking a vehicle to transport the accused, but police had responded that no vehicle or three constables were available. Appearing before the court, the SP said a large number of police personnel were deployed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a high-level delegation was also present. She proposed holding the trial inside the jail.
The court was told that the SP’s office had requested a jail trial, but a final decision had not yet been made. She sought two to three hours to update the court on the matter. Expressing displeasure, Judge said he had repeatedly directed authorities over several days to produce the accused and questioned why the police had not raised the issue earlier. The Chief Commissioner’s Office subsequently issued the notification for the jail trial.
The court adjourned the case until tomorrow directed lawyers and witnesses to appear at Adiala Jail for the next hearing. The case against Mazari and Chattha is registered at Aabpara Police Station.