ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Saturday issued a contempt of court show-cause notice to the superintendent of Adiala Jail after lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, could not be produced through video link despite court orders.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra was hearing the case related to the couple’s bail applications in a case registered at the Secretariat Police Station. The court had ordered the jail authorities to present Mazari and Chattha through video link during Saturday’s proceedings.
However, the accused could not be produced, with jail authorities citing internet connectivity problems. The court was also informed that the signed powers of attorney of both accused had not been provided, while no jail official appeared before the court.
Judge Supra remarked that authorities had repeatedly cited internet problems and said he had earlier directed PTCL and NTC to send technical experts to the jail. He added that experts had also been ordered to be sent from Haripur to address the issue.
During the hearing, the judge also questioned whether the deputy superintendent had collected the powers of attorney from the sessions court. Lawyer Riasat Ali replied that he was unaware whether the documents had been collected after being submitted to the sessions court for dispatch to the jail.
The judge observed that receiving powers of attorney was a basic right of an accused and said the jail superintendent should neither put the courts in a difficult position nor place himself in such a position.
The court subsequently issued a contempt of court show-cause notice to the Adiala Jail superintendent, asking why he should not be sentenced to six months in prison.
Imaan Mazari’s mother, Shireen Mazari, and a number of lawyers were also present during the proceedings.
Judge Tahir Abbas Supra adjourned the hearing until Tuesday.