Pakistani lawyer accuses military spokesperson of interfering in ongoing trial

Pakistan's human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari filed a fresh application in Islamabad on Wednesday, alleging that the army's spokesperson attempted to influence the judicial process through public statements while her case remains sub judice.

Separately, Mazari's co-accused and husband, Hadi Ali Chathha, submitted a petition requesting the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, to be summoned as a witness.

Mazari said the DG ISPR referred to her as a “lawyer of traitors” and accused her of being a foreign agent during official statements and a press briefing. She argued these remarks were intended to prejudice court proceedings and interfere with her constitutional right to a fair trial.

The application, filed under Section 540 of the Criminal Procedure Code, claims remarks made by Lt. Gen. Chaudhry on January 6, 2026, touched on matters currently under adjudication and could influence the ongoing criminal trial.

'Prejudicial public statements'

According to the petition, the DG ISPR allegedly called the accused a “human rights activist for suicide bombers” and said her “strings are controlled from abroad.” The defense said these assertions mirrored the prosecution’s narrative and were widely broadcast on national media, potentially shaping public perception.

The petition also alleges that the accused were warned before the registration of the FIR that punitive action would follow. It claims interference in the trial process, including undue influence over legal proceedings and reporting of developments to senior authorities. The defense noted that the Pakistan Army is the complainant in the case.

Mazari and Chathha emphasized that the accused face potential sentences of up to 14 years. The petition argues that summoning the DG ISPR for cross-examination is crucial to uphold natural justice and protect the right to a fair trial. It warned that failure to do so could cause irreparable harm and risk the proceedings being declared a mistrial due to “highly prejudicial and inflammatory” statements.

Court seeks prosecution response

Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka, hearing the case in Islamabad, directed that a copy of the application be provided to the prosecution for a response.

The case concerns allegedly controversial tweets involving Mazari and Chathha, both of whom appeared in court during Wednesday’s hearing.

During proceedings, Mazari objected to the presence of individuals she claimed were affiliated with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), requesting they be removed. Judge Majoka asked the defense to identify those allegedly linked to the agency. Cross-examination of prosecution witness Shehroz Riaz then continued.