Controversial tweet case: court screens political speeches, ex-ISPR chief video

ISLAMABAD: A district court in Islamabad on Monday screened political speeches and a video statement by a former military spokesman during proceedings in a controversial case involving social media posts by human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha.

Islamabad Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka took up the case stemming from a first information report filed by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

The FIR accuses the couple of publishing posts critical of the state and of promoting narratives aligned with proscribed organisations.

Mazari and Chattha, both prominent lawyers and activists, have denied the charges and allege the case is part of a wider pattern of legal reprisals against rights defenders critical of state conduct, particularly over issues such as enforced disappearances.

During the latest hearing, defenant Hadi Ali Chattha cross-examined prosecution witness Anees-ur-Rehman, who acknowledged he did not recall the number of blasphemy-related reports he had prepared and said he had not received training on enforced disappearances.

Rehman described the challenged tweets as “anti-state,” and said he did not know whether groups such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat were proscribed.

A tweet from the case file was read to the witness. Rehman said neither the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) nor Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) were explicitly named, but that the “narrative” was similar.

He also said he had checked the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) website when preparing his report, and that spreading narratives of proscribed groups was a crime.

The defence played video excerpts of a speech made by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, during which slogans such as “uniform is behind this terrorism” and other anti-institution chants were audible.

When asked whether that speech could be classified as anti-state, the witness said he could comment only after viewing the full video.

He also repeatedly declined to comment on a statement by former Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Asif Ghafoor regarding missing persons.

Videos of events organised by groups identified by prosecutors as proscribed were also shown; the defence said these showed police managing arrangements, a point the witness said he would only consider if a case were formally presented to him.

The case has drawn significant public and legal community interest. Lawyers and activists have protested, calling for transparency and a fair trial, and the Islamabad High Court is considering a petition from the defence seeking transfer of the case and alleging procedural irregularities.

An earlier hearing was adjourned amid demonstrations and criticism by legal associations that the couple had been denied a fair opportunity to present their case in their chosen counsel’s presence.

Hadi Ali Chattha was previously arrested after the court issued non-bailable warrants for both defendants for failing to appear, though he was later released.

The couple was formally indicted in October 2025 and has filed a distrust petition against the presiding judge.

Cross-examination of Anees-ur-Rehman by Mazari and Chattha concluded on Monday. The next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7.

Nadir Baloch