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An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday replaced state counsel Taimoor Janjua in a security breach case involving lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha. The decision followed objections from the couple over Janjua’s previous conduct in another case. ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra appointed Advocate Atif Mehmood as his replacement during proceedings at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.
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The couple faces trial over allegations of disrupting an international cricket team’s security route and inciting public unrest in 2024. The court indicted them on October 7. Janjua had appointed a day earlier to cross-examine prosecution witnesses after the defence lawyers failed to do so. However, Imaan told the court that Janjua had previously represented them as state counsel in a controversial social media posts case.
Hadi also objected to Janjua’s conduct, alleging that the lawyer had claimed he received Rs500,000 and completed cross-examination in one day. Janjua challenged the allegation, prompting a heated exchange. Defence counsel Aimal Khan Mandokhail questioned whether Janjua was representing the accused or working against them. Judge Sipra also expressed displeasure over Janjua’s courtroom conduct.
Imaan told the court that she and Hadi did not require state counsel because they already had their own lawyers. Hadi explained that their lawyers often attended other proceedings at the Islamabad High Court, while the ATC scheduled daily hearings at Adiala jail. No prosecution witness was cross-examined on Thursday. The judge directed the witnesses to return on Friday and warned that proceedings would not face further delays.
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The court ordered the couple to ensure their lawyers conduct the cross-examination at the next hearing, scheduled for 9am on Friday. If their lawyers fail to appear, Mehmood will undertake the exercise. Their convictions had drawn criticism from lawyers and United Nations experts. They were subsequently arrested in another case involving alleged protests, roadblocks and obstruction of public officials.