September 22, 2026
HASHIR AHSAN
ISLAMBAD
Bail applications filed by Advocates Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chatha during the hearing of a protest-related case in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) have become victims to delays.
The hearing was conducted by ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, during which Dr. Shireen Mazari and lawyers Raja Zahid, Aimal, Asif Tamboli, and Zainab Janjua were present in the courtroom.
During the hearing, Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra inquired from the lawyers whether the powers of attorney (Wakalatnamas) were attested or not? Upon this, lawyer Zainab Janjua informed the court that they tried twice on Friday and Saturday and she herself met the Adiala Jail authorities, but they state that the powers of attorney will proceed under due process.
She submitted that both lawyers are currently in court custody and engaging a lawyer is their fundamental right. On this occasion, Advocate Asif Tamboli said that Imaan Mazari’s mother is also present in the courtroom and the court can verify from her as well.
Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra clarified that he cannot accept the bail application without signatures, to which lawyer Asif Tamboli requested that the court keep their powers of attorney and get them verified itself.
Upon this, Judge Tahir Abbas passed a remark saying that when it comes to lawyers, laws and rules are kept aside. However, he stated that they would find a way out for this matter and ask the jail authorities why they are not providing the powers of attorney after getting them signed, while simultaneously addressing the prosecutor to question why the process is not being followed?
During the hearing, Imaan Mazari’s mother, Dr. Shireen Mazari, leveled serious allegations against the police, informing the court that Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha were arrested from the room of the Jail DSP Legal and both were beaten up during the arrest.
Dr. Shireen Mazari pleaded to the court, asking that the court must do something as to why the powers of attorney are not being provided after being signed?
Ultimately, the court returned the bail applications due to the absence of powers of attorney, after which the legal team of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha filed a petition in court against the Adiala Jail authorities for not getting the powers of attorney signed.
Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra issued a notice to the jail authorities for September 24 on this petition filed against them and sought a reply from them.
Application
An application has been filed by the lawyers of Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha in Anti-Terrorism Court No. 1, Islamabad, in Case No. 276/2025 registered at Kohsar Police Station, Islamabad, requesting the issuance of appropriate orders under the relevant provisions of the law.
It is stated in the application that Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali wish to formally appoint the undersigned as their counsel/lawyer for the post-arrest bail application in the said case.
The position adopted in the application is that since September 18, 2026, the lawyers have made several attempts to meet the accused at Central Jail Adiala Rawalpindi and get the power of attorney (Wakalatnama) signed by them, where they are present on judicial remand under this honorable court’s order of September 17, 2026.
Apart from this, an unsuccessful attempt was also made through the court to get the power of attorney verified and executed, which is extraordinary and incomprehensible.
According to the application, since the accused are in judicial custody under the orders of this court, the responsibility rests upon this court to protect their rights and ensure their right to representation through a lawyer of their choice.
Therefore, it is the responsibility of the court to ensure the timely execution and verification of the power of attorney in favor of the counsel through jail authorities without any delay
It has been requested that the court direct the relevant jail authorities to properly execute, verify, and present the accused’s power of attorney in favor of the counsel before the court as soon as possible, and grant whatever appropriate relief is deemed fit according to the circumstances of the case.
The application has been presented on behalf of Supreme Court Advocate Faisal Siddiqui through Supreme Court Advocate Riasat Ali Azad, High Court Advocate Zainab Janjua, and High Court Advocate Aimal Khan Mandokhail.
Shireen Mazari (X) Post
In a message released on social media (X), Shireen Mazari disclosed that today morning, by the grace of Allah, Imaan and Hadi were found safe in Adiala Jail. However, the manner in which they were re-arrested on Thursday night from the office of DSP Legal Adiala, the facts of which show that prisoners are not safe even inside the jail.
Accusing the Islamabad Police of violence against both, she named SHO Shams Colony Dilshan Farooqui and Lady Police Officer Misbah, stating that the said female officer Misbah has subjected Imaan to violence several times earlier as well.
According to Shireen Mazari, both individuals were also injured during this illegal arrest. At the time of arrest, neither were they shown any FIR nor were they told where they were being taken.
She further stated that after the arrest, a motorcade (escort) of 12 vehicles left carrying them. During this, SHO Dilshan, who was driving the vehicle very fast and recklessly, had his vehicle crash after hitting the side of the road (curbside).
Later, both were presented before the judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). In court, they informed the judge about the violence committed by the Islamabad Police within the jail premises and also raised the question as to why they are once again not being allowed to meet lawyers and access legal aid.
Shireen Mazari also alleged that the Adiala Jail management is not processing and approving the powers of attorney (PoAs) of Imaan and Hadi, even though it is the legal and fundamental right of every prisoner.
Concluding her statement, she said that she is repeatedly stating that in the matters of Imaan and Hadi, all of this is purely “vengeance,” and it has nothing to do with justice.