ISLAMABAD(National times)- A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Thursday withdrew the non-bailable arrest warrants issued for lawyer and rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in the controversial tweet case. The warrants, issued by Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka on Wednesday after the couple failed to appear for a hearing, were cancelled when both Mazari and Chattha appeared before the court on Thursday. During the proceedings, Advocate Samiullah Wazir submitted a power of attorney on behalf of Chattha, while Mazari requested additional time to appoint her legal representative. The court granted her time until Saturday to submit her lawyer’s authorisation. Mazari voiced frustration at the case’s progress, saying their rights were being violated and alleging they were being “punished for speaking the truth.” She urged the court to read out the charges against them. Judge Majoka responded that the charges had already been read three times in the presence of their lawyers.

Islamabad court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Imaan Mazari, husband

Chattha, meanwhile, sought the dismissal of the state counsel assigned to his case, claiming his private lawyer was now available. Judge Majoka clarified that he had not appointed the state counsel and directed Chattha to present arguments regarding the issue on Saturday, when a decision will be made. The case, filed by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency, accuses the couple of using social media to incite linguistic divisions, under Sections 9, 10, 11, and 26 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.