Chatha arrested in controversial tweet case

ISLAMABAD: One of the accused in the controversial tweet case, Hadi Ali Chatha was arrested from the court after Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majuka issued his non-bailable arrest warrants on Tuesday.

Earlier during the hearing, Judge Majuka remarked that the accused had apparently not submitted the required bonds and directed the investigation officer to carry out the arrest. However, after the order was issued, Chatha arrived at the courtroom. The court then informed him that the order had been passed and that he should now appear on Thursday.

Following the hearing, a member of the prosecution team, Muhammad Usman Rana, spoke to the media. He stated that while the prosecution was present in court in the morning, only an assistant lawyer appeared for the accused. He alleged the defendants, Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha were behaving “like children,” and were using deliberately using delaying tactics to prevent the trial from proceeding. He said the court had initially set the time of 11:30 am, but the accused did not appear at that time. Later the hearing was adjourned until 2 pm. He said that the accused have made statements and tweets in favor of banned organizations.

In his comments to the media, Hadi Ali Chatha contested this account. He stated that hearings had been held throughout the morning and that he had arrived before 3:00 pm, but the judge remained in his chambers. “If they want to arrest me, I am standing in the court.” Shortly after, officials from the National Counter Terrorism Authority arrested Hadi Ali Chatha from outside the courtroom.