State counsel cross-examines prosecution witnesses in security breach case against Imaan, Hadi

ISLAMABAD: A state-appointed counsel on Friday cross-examined all prosecution witnesses in a security breach case against lawyers Imaan Zainab Hazir-Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha. Imaan and her husband, Hadi, are facing a jail trial in a 2024 case pertaining to the alleged disruption of an international cricket team’s security route and incitement to public unrest. The couple, accused of removing barriers from the route, was indicted on Oct 7. Anti-terrorism court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra presided over the hearing held inside Adiala jail on Friday, during which state counsel Atif Mehmood cross-examined a prosecution witness. On Saturday, the court will provide Imaan and Hadi with questionnaires under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to record their statements.

In a hearing on Thursday, the court appointed Mehmood as the state counsel to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses, replacing Taimoor Janjua, who was dismissed over his past conduct. The court had ruled to appoint the state attorney after the defence counsel failed to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses. During the last hearing, Imaan informed the court that she and Hadi did not need a state counsel as they already had their own lawyers. Hadi explained that their lawyers were frequently occupied with other cases at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), while the trial court had scheduled daily hearings at Adiala, making it difficult for them to attend every proceeding. The court had directed the prosecution witnesses to appear again on Friday, affirming that the cross-examination would proceed without further delay. Imaan and Hadi’s rearrest The lawyer couple has been in jail since their arrest on Jan 23 in a case registered against them for protesting outside the IHC and allegedly manhandling…