Islamabad DIG ordered to arrest Imaan, Hadi within 24 hours

An Islamabad court on Friday ordered law forcers to arrest lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, within 24 hours, in a case pertaining to controversial social media posts.

The couple is facing trial over allegations of inciting divisions on linguistic grounds through their social media posts. 

Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka directed Islamabad Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Jawad Tariq to ensure the arrests within the given time frame.

Addressing the police, the judge made it clear that there would be no room for delay.

The judge remarked that the accused must be traced and taken into custody regardless of where they are, adding that failure to do so within 24 hours would lead to contempt of court action against the authorities.

The court had already cancelled the interim bail of Mazari and Chattha a day earlier after they repeatedly failed to appear despite clear court instructions.

Judge Majoka also instructed the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCIA) to place both accused in lockup immediately after their arrest.

In addition, the court ordered that statements of the accused under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code be recorded through a video link if their physical appearance before the court cannot be arranged right away.