Islamabad Court Grants Three-Day Remand for Lawyers Facing Terrorism Charges
Defense Criticizes Use of Anti-Terror Laws Over Alleged Barrier Removal Incident
Islamabad-(Mudassar Iqbal): Today, an Islamabad anti-terrorism court placed lawyers Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha on a three-day remand, following charges filed under terrorism laws. The session was overseen by Judge Abu Al-Hasanat Muhammad Zulqarnain.
During the hearing, the prosecution, represented by the police, sought a 30-day remand for both Mazari and Chattha. The prosecutor argued that the lawyers had attempted to illegally remove barriers, disrupting traffic flow, and requested time for video and voice analysis as part of the evidence.
The charges specified that Mazari and Chattha allegedly interfered with established traffic arrangements despite prior notifications. The prosecution expressed surprise at their alleged actions, suggesting a disregard for lawful procedures.
Defending the accused, Advocates Ataullah Khandi and Qaisar Imam disputed the terrorism charges, arguing that, at most, the actions could be classified as interference in government operations but did not meet the threshold for terrorism. Khandi questioned the necessity of a 30-day remand, especially as the accused were not denying the actions themselves. Advocate Ahsan Pirzada, representing Mazari, added that those involved in the altercation were not in police uniform, further challenging the context of the incident.
Judge Zulqarnain questioned the need for such a lengthy remand, leading the prosecution to justify it on grounds of needing forensic analysis of the video evidence. The hearing concluded without a final decision on the 30-day remand request.
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