Lawyers Imaan, Hadi sent to jail on judicial remand following arrest in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Hours after the arrest of activist and lawyer ImaanZainabMazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha on Friday, the couple was sent to jail on judicial remand by an anti-terrorism court.

The development came in a case registered against the two for protesting outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and allegedly manhandling the IHC Bar Association (IHCBA) president.

Strict security measures were enforced during the proceedings and lawyers and media persons were not allowed to enter the courtroom.

The case was heard by ATC Judge AbualHasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain.

It should be mentioned that prior to Imaan and Hadi’s arrest on Friday morning, the two had spent three nights at the office of IHCBA President Syed Wajid Ali Gilani.Their arrest subsequently prompted lawyers’ bodies to announce a complete strike while strongly condemning the action.

Imaan and Hadi were scheduled to appear in a trial court on Friday in the controversial social media posts case, in which Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Mohammad AfzalMajoka had cancelled their bail on January 15 and issued their arrest warrants.

According to IHCBA officials, Imaan and Hadi, along with the bar association’s president, had gone to surrender before IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad SarfarazDogar today.

However, they were informed by court staff that the chief justice was not present. They then returned to the bar association and later left for the district courts in an IHCBA vehicle, the officials said.

As the convoy left the IHC premises, police vehicles already deployed outside the building for the past three days began following them. Near the underpass located in front of Serena Hotel, police intercepted the vehicle, arrested the couple and shifted them to an undisclosed location.

Outside the Women Police Station, IHCBA President Gilani said that a new first information report (FIR) had been registered three days earlier against the two lawyers.

He said that while the IHC had granted relief in one case, other matters were pending before Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad AfzalMajoka, where the accused were required to appear.

Meanwhile, IHCBA members alleged that despite assurances from the administration that the lawyers would not be arrested, police intercepted them and used force during the arrest.

They claimed that police personnel assaulted the lawyers, forcibly opened vehicle doors, and manhandled Imaan during her arrest. The IHCBA expressed concern for her safety and alleged misconduct by law enforcement officials.

The Islamabad Bar Council, IHCBA, and the district bar association jointly condemned the arrests, terming them an attack on the legal fraternity and the rule of law. Bar members warned that if such actions continued, a movement similar to the 2007 lawyers’ movement could be launched.

Further, IHCBA Secretary Manzoor Ahmed Jajja said he was assured that the couple would not be arrested until they surrendered before the trial court. He resigned in protest over the arrest.

Jajja said that he has submitted his resignation to the Islamabad Bar Council.

Meanwhile, Additional District and Sessions Judge Majoka adjourned the hearing of the controversial tweet case against the couple due to their absence. Staff report