ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) issued a contempt show-cause notice to Adiala jail’s superintendent on Saturday. The order came during bail proceedings for lawyers Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha.
Judge Tahir Abbas Supra had ordered jail authorities on Friday to arrange the couple’s appearance through video link. They failed to do so and did not provide the signed powers of attorney, known as wakalatnamas.
No jail official attended Saturday’s hearing.
Court staff relayed the authorities’ explanation that an internet connectivity problem had prevented the video-link appearance. Supra questioned the repeated references to technical difficulties.
He said he had previously directed Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited and the National Telecommunication Corporation to send experts to the jail. He had also ordered technical assistance from Haripur.
Read: Imaan Mazari Bail Granted as SC Suspends Couple’s Sentences
Turning to the missing documents, Supra asked whether the jail’s deputy superintendent had collected the wakalatnamas from the sessions court. Lawyer Riasat Ali replied that the legal team had submitted them there for dispatch, as ordered.
Ali could not confirm whether jail officials had collected them.
Supra described access to powers of attorney as a basic right of an accused. His notice sought an explanation from the superintendent as to why he should not receive six months’ imprisonment for contempt.
Mazari’s mother, Shireen Mazari, attended the proceedings alongside other lawyers. The hearing concerned a case registered at Secretariat Police Station. The court adjourned proceedings until Tuesday, September 29.
(With input from Geo News)
