ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday dropped contempt of court proceedings against Adiala jail authorities after the vakalatnamas (powers of attorney) for human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were signed, while another ATC issued notices on their bail petitions in a case registered against them over a protest.

On Saturday, an ATC had issued a contempt of court notice to the Adiala jail superintendent for allegedly failing to facilitate the signing and transmission of vakalatnamas required to file bail petitions for Imaan and Chattha.

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra heard a petition concerning the signing of the powers of attorney, with lawyers Riasat Ali Azad and others appearing on behalf of the two accused.

During the hearing, the court directed the superintendent of Adiala jail to formulate rules governing the signing of powers of attorney by prisoners, observing that the process should not become an obstacle to access to justice.

“The superintendent is directed to formulate rules regarding vakalatnamas,” the judge said.

The court was informed that the powers of attorney of Imaan and Hadi had been signed. Subsequently, the judge dropped the contempt proceedings against the jail authorities and disposed of the petition.

Expressing concern over the difficulties faced by lawyers in getting the necessary documents signed, Justice Sipra remarked: “If this is happening to lawyers, what must be happening to the vakalatnamas of ordinary litigants?”

Advocate Zainab told the court that the high court had established standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the process. She said the jail authorities should ensure that the procedure did not become a form of punishment for prisoners seeking legal representation.

The judge observed that, in the past, vakalatnamas had sometimes been signed in holding cells or inside vehicles, adding that the introduction of SOPs had brought considerable improvement, although occasional problems persisted.

“The path to justice begins with the signing of the vakalatnama,” the judge remarked.

In a separate proceeding, ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain heard the bail petitions filed by Imaan and Hadi in a case registered against them at Kohsar police station in connection with a protest.

The court issued notices to the parties and directed them to present their arguments on the bail petitions on Oct 5.

Meanwhile, former federal minister Shireen Mazari said Imaan and Hadi had been produced before the court after it was opened at night.

However, Judge Zulqarnain clarified that the court had not been opened at night and was already conducting proceedings.

He said he had remained seated after being informed that a remand hearing was forthcoming.

Imaan and Hadi were sentenced in January to 17 years on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) in the controversial social media posts case.

On Sept 18, the Supreme Court suspended their sentences and ordered their release on bail against surety bonds of Rs200,000 each. The SC ordered the couple’s release on bail pending the Islamabad High Court’s final verdict on their appeals against the trial court’s decision.

However, the reprieve was short-lived as hours later, Islamabad police arrested the couple again in connection with another case registered at the federal capital’s Kohsar police station on March 22 last year on the complaint of City Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Chandio. The police produced them before an ATC, which sent them to jail on judicial remand.

Imaan and her husband were accused of chanting anti-government slogans and blocking roads and were nominated by name in the first information report. However, at the time of registration of the case, no section of the Anti-Terrorism Act had been added.