Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chatha appeal to Supreme Court over anti-terrorism trial halt

Petition against high court decision

The couple filed separate petitions through senior counsel Faisal Siddiqui after the Islamabad High Court dismissed their request for an interim order on October 19. Their application seeks to stop proceedings that they claim were initiated without adequate time for defense preparation. They argue that recording prosecution witness statements in a single day demonstrates haste and lack of due process.

Charges involve security breach

The case concerns allegations regarding the removal of barriers from an international cricket team route and incitement to public unrest. The accused were indicted on October 7 following the rejection of earlier petitions challenging the framing of charges. Prosecutors requested a shift of the trial venue to jail, a move the defense has also contested before the high court.

Defense claims political victimization

The applicants maintain that removing security barriers does not constitute terrorism and that the trial aims to keep them behind bars. They allege the process is intended to harass the accused rather than seek justice for the alleged offenses. The Supreme Court has issued notices while awaiting responses from all parties involved in the legal dispute.