Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha approached the Supreme Court to challenge an Islamabad High Court decision and halt proceedings in an anti-terrorism case. The Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court framed charges against the pair on 7 October regarding the alleged disruption of a designated route and removal of security barriers during an international cricket team's visit.
Mazari and Chatha claim the trial court acted in haste without providing sufficient time, asserting that removing barriers does not constitute terrorism. The accused further alleged that the proceedings were intended to keep them behind bars as a form of political victimisation.
They maintained they were not physically present when indicted and had not received copies of the relevant documents. On 17 September, the pair was rearrested and the trial was moved to Adiala Jail.
Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain rejected a request for a 30-day physical remand and instead sent the couple on judicial remand. The judge noted that no weapon had been attributed to either accused during the proceedings.
The court recorded statements from seven prosecution witnesses as the case reached the cross-examination stage. On 27 September, the court issued a contempt notice to the Adiala jail superintendent, though it ended those contempt proceedings on 29 September.
The Islamabad High Court heard appeals on 19 October and dismissed a request for an interim order seeking to remove anti-terrorism provisions. However, the high court issued notices to relevant parties regarding a separate plea to suspend the trial proceedings.
Mazari and Chatha signed the required powers of attorney on 29 September. The Supreme Court previously granted the pair bail and suspended their sentences in a separate case involving social-media posts.
