Rawalpindi: Human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, walked out of an Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) hearing at Adiala jail on Friday after raising objections to the manner in which they were presented before the court.
The hearing concerned allegations that the couple disrupted the security route of an international cricket team and incited public unrest.
The two are accused of removing security barriers from the route and were formally indicted in the case on October 7.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra conducted Friday's proceedings inside Adiala jail after the court accepted a police recommendation to relocate the hearing because of difficulties in transporting the accused.
According to defence lawyers present at the hearing, proceedings began at 10:55am.
The couple were placed in a dock in a corner of the courtroom, prompting objections over their treatment and their ability to communicate with legal counsel.
Mazari told the court that the arrangements were inappropriate and that they were being prevented from meeting their lawyers.
Her husband also objected to their treatment, claiming that they were being subjected to restrictions more severe than those imposed on terrorism suspects. Judge Sipra subsequently directed police personnel standing beside the accused to move away, questioning the need for officers to remain so close to them inside the courtroom.
The defence team filed applications seeking an end to the jail trial and an adjournment of the proceedings. After hearing initial arguments, the judge announced a 20 minute recess and said the court would issue an order on the applications.
When proceedings resumed, prosecution witness Ibrahim recorded his statement. Defence lawyer Aimal Khan Mandokhail urged the court to decide the adjournment application before continuing with witness testimony.
He also complained that other members of the defence team had been denied entry to the courtroom. Mandokhail warned that the lawyers could not continue participating in the proceedings under the existing arrangements.
He further requested that the matter not be postponed until the following day, referring to pending bail proceedings. Following the exchange, Mazari, Chattha and their lawyers walked out of the courtroom.
The couple have faced several legal proceedings in recent months. They were arrested on January 23 in connection with a case involving a protest outside the Islamabad High Court and allegations of misconduct towards the president of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association.
The following day, a sessions court sentenced them to 17 years' imprisonment on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) in a separate case concerning social media posts.
The convictions drew criticism from lawyers, human rights organisations and United Nations experts, who raised concerns about the legal proceedings. On September 17, the Supreme Court suspended their sentences and ordered their release pending a final decision by the Islamabad High Court on their appeals.
However, Islamabad police arrested the couple again hours later in connection with another case, after which an anti terrorism court sent them to jail on judicial remand. The case was registered at Islamabad's Kohsar Police Station on March 22 last year following a complaint by City Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Chandio.
The allegations included blocking roads, chanting anti government slogans and obstructing public officials. The original first information report included provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code relating to disobedience of official orders, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation and obstruction of public servants.
No provision of the Anti Terrorism Act was included when the case was initially registered.
The latest hearing has brought renewed attention to the conditions under which the couple are being tried, particularly their access to legal representation and the defence request to discontinue proceedings inside Adiala jail.
