ISLAMABAD: Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majuka on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of the case pertaining to controversial tweets against Iman Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chatha, while expressing strong displeasure over the repeated absence of the accused and delays in the proceedings.
The court directed that if the cross-examination is not completed at the next hearing, the right to cross-examination would be revoked.
During the initial hearing, assistant counsel for Iman Mazari and Hadi Chatha appeared before the court and submitted that the accused’s bail application was pending before the Islamabad High Court, adding that they would appear before the trial court after the high court proceedings. The court, at this stage, adjourned the hearing until 1:30 pm.
When the hearing resumed, the court directed the prosecution to read out the Islamabad High Court’s order issued a day earlier. Judge Afzal Majuka remarked that he had received the high court order at 3:28pm the previous day. The prosecution informed the court that the high court had upheld cancellation of the previous bail and the issuance of warrants to that extent.
The court clarified that under the IHC’s directions, the trial was to be concluded within four days, following which the hearing was adjourned until 2:30 pm. However, upon resumption, Iman Mazari and Hadi Chatha again failed to appear, prompting strong remarks from the court.
Judge Afzal Majuka observed that despite grant of two-day protective bail, non-appearance of the accused was regrettable and appeared deliberate. The court noted that the high court’s order, received on January 20, required completion of cross-examination within four days. Accordingly, the accused were directed to complete cross-examination by 3:30 pm on January 24.
The judge remarked that late appearances had become a routine practice and that valuable court time was being deliberately wasted. The court ordered that cross-examination would commence at 9:30am and conclude at 3:30pm, with a half-hour break at 1:30 pm.
The court further warned that no additional time would be granted if the accused wasted the day’s proceedings, and that failure to complete cross-examination by the stipulated time would result in termination of the right to cross-examination. The hearing of the controversial tweets case was adjourned until Thursday.
Legal circles observed that the court’s stern remarks indicated that no further delay in the trial would be tolerated.
Separately, the legal branch of the district court was locked down after registration of a new FIR against Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha. Sources said legal branch staff were suspected of leaking the FIR, following which senior police officers ordered the lockdown. The CIA has launched an investigation into the matter. The FIR against the accused was registered in July, and both failed to secure bail in the said case.
