Islamabad anti-terror court lifts contempt case after jail powers of attorney signed
An Islamabad anti-terrorism court dismissed contempt proceedings against Adiala jail officials once the powers of attorney for lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were signed.
On Tuesday, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad terminated contempt of court proceedings against the superintendent of Adiala jail after the vakalatnamas for human-rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were finally signed. Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra instructed the jail to draft procedural rules to prevent similar obstacles to prisoners' access to legal representation. The court noted past irregularities, such as signing documents in cells or vehicles, and praised recent SOP improvements while acknowledging lingering issues.
In a separate matter, the same court set a date for hearing bail petitions filed by Mazari and Chattha, who face charges stemming from a protest and earlier convictions under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. Their recent release on bail by the Supreme Court was quickly followed by a re-arrest on unrelated allegations. The developments highlight ongoing tensions over legal rights for detainees in Pakistan.
