ATC Rebukes Police Over Imaan And Hadi Case Record

An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad expressed strong displeasure on Monday over the absence of the investigating officer and the police failure to present the case record during the bail proceedings of lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha.

The matter was taken up by ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain, who questioned police officials after the court was told that the investigating officer was not available. The judge summoned senior police officials and the security head of the Judicial Complex after the prosecution could not produce the record required for hearing the bail petitions.

During the proceedings, DSP Legal Naeem Yousuf informed the court that the investigating officer was out of town. When pressed for details, he said the officer was in Gilgit-Baltistan and presented a WhatsApp printout as proof. The judge declined to rely on the printout and directed police to provide the original document instead of verbal claims.

The court also questioned why the case file had not been kept available for proceedings, especially when the accused had filed bail pleas. The judge observed that the absence of the record was obstructing the court’s work and remarked that the conduct reflected excessive use of authority by the police.

The situation grew tense when the court was told that the investigating officer’s phone was switched off and that it could take 10 to 15 days to contact him. The judge warned that if the record was not produced, senior police officials could face serious consequences, including detention for failing to assist the court.

Defence counsel Riasat Ali Azad argued that most of the allegations in the case were bailable, except the terrorism-related provision. He said the court had already rejected a request for physical remand, and there was no legal justification to delay bail proceedings merely because the investigating officer was absent.

Another lawyer appearing in the matter objected to the investigating officer taking the record away, saying such conduct could not be accepted in a case where liberty was at stake. The prosecution maintained that the record could not be presented because the officer was unavailable.

The court dictated a detailed order regarding the non-availability of the investigating officer and the case record, then adjourned further hearing until October 13. The case relates to a protest outside the Islamabad High Court, where the couple is accused of chanting slogans, blocking roads and allegedly obstructing officials during the demonstration.