A district and sessions court in Islamabad has formally indicted lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chatha, in a case related to social media posts. Both defendants pleaded not guilty during a hearing marked by a confrontation between the judge and the accused.
Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka presided over the session and summoned all prosecution witnesses for the next hearing. The court also directed Chatha to submit fresh surety bonds, an order he publicly refused.
Hadi Ali Chatha defied the judge’s directive. “I will not submit surety bonds,” he stated. “If you want to jail me for a year, go ahead. You acted unlawfully yesterday and are unfit to be a judge.”
جج افضل منجوکہ نے غیر اڈدر کرکے مجھے گرفتار کرایا اور آج اس سے پہلے کہ ہم کچھ کہتے اپنا آڈر واپس لے لیا، عدالتوں کو غیر قانونی اور کسی کی خواہش پر نہیں چلنے دیں گے، ایڈووکیٹ ہادی علی چھٹہ pic.twitter.com/xyoyqyTJWk
— Nadir Baloch (@BalochNadir5) October 30, 2025Chatha’s arrest by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency preceded the hearing after a local court issued non-bailable warrants for his failure to appear.
Following her husband’s remarks, Imaan Mazari commented, “You want to have us arrested; please cancel my bail as well.” Judge Majoka replied, “It is my principle that if I give you respect, I expect the same in return.”
26 ویں آئینی ترمیم کے بعد عدالتیں ضمیرفروشی کے اڈے بن چکے ہے۔@ImaanZHazir https://t.co/3nQZno7ksp pic.twitter.com/3JSKJAVlk4
— Ayaz Bazai (@journobazai) October 30, 2025Defence counsel Qaiser Imam argued that the accused had multiple appearances in other cases, including at the High Court. The judge noted that the hearing had already been postponed three times at the defence’s request.
Read: Imaan Mazari Files Grievance Over Inaction on IHC Harassment Complaint
The court subsequently adjourned the case until November 5, directing witnesses to appear. The case centres around tweets posted by Imaan Mazari on the platform X, which authorities have deemed controversial. Chatha was included in the investigation for retweeting the posts.
جس لاک اپ میں مجھے رکھا گیا وہاں پر واش روم نہیں تھا۔اگر مجوکہ صاحب کو وہاں رہنا پڑا تو وہ دس منٹ نہیں گزار سکیں گے۔۔ہادی علی چٹھہ@AdvHadiali @ImaanZHazir pic.twitter.com/dZfZghV1x2
— Sadaqat Saqi (@sadaqatsaqi05) October 30, 2025In a separate case, an anti-terrorism court extended the interim bail of Imaan Mazari, Hadi Ali Chatha, and other lawyers. That case involves an alleged altercation and assault on High Court Bar President Wajid Gilani. The court has adjourned that matter until November 3.
