An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday began recording witness statements in the barricade removal case in the absence of lawyer Imaan Mazari, her husband Hadi Ali Chattha and their counsel after they boycotted the proceedings. ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra heard the case, in which Eemal Khan Mandokhail appeared as counsel for Imaan and Hadi. “We went to Adiala Jail yesterday, but could not meet them,” Mandokhail told the court. He said the previous day had been designated for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyers to meet inmates, but roads had been blocked about one-and-a-half kilometres from the jail. He added that they had requested a meeting in accordance with a court order but had been unable to meet their clients. A court official informed the judge that jail authorities had said the accused would be produced via video link. Mandokhail requested the court to ensure the physical appearance of Imaan and Hadi. Judge Supra said reports from the police and jail authorities had been received, adding that they had reported there was no special vehicle available to bring the accused to court that day. Prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kiyani requested the court to record the witnesses’ statements. The judge said the statements could be recorded that day and the question of cross-examination could be considered afterwards. Imaan, Hadi and their lawyers subsequently boycotted the proceedings. “We request the court to call us into the courtroom,” Hadi said. Read: ATC orders jail authorities to facilitate lawyers' meetings with Imaan, Hadi Former human rights minister Shireen Mazari called for their privacy to be respected, saying that everything was recorded in the room where meetings took place. Mandokhail said he had received no directions regarding the recording of witness statements. He requested that the lawyers be allowed to meet their clients before the statements were recorded. “The court has said that all stakeholders must be satisfied,” Hadi said, adding that the accused were the biggest stakeholders and that their participation was a legal right. When a witness began recording his testimony, the lawyers and Shireen left the courtroom. Imaan and Hadi also left after the lawyers’ departure. The testimony of a traffic police employee was being recorded in their absence. Read: ATC orders jail authorities to facilitate lawyers' meetings with Imaan, Hadi At the previous hearing on October 13, the ATC directed jail authorities to facilitate meetings between Imaan, Hadi and their legal team, after the lawyers said they had been unable to meet the couple at Adiala Jail. Hadi also raised concerns about the confidentiality of lawyer-client meetings, saying cameras had been installed in the meeting areas, and questioned how they could defend themselves without access to their lawyers. Case background Imaan and her husband Hadi were rearrested on September 17, shortly after the Supreme Court granted them bail and suspended their sentences in a separate social-media posts case. They were produced before an Islamabad ATC in connection with a case registered at Kohsar Police Station. Police sought 30-day physical remand, but ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain rejected the request and sent the couple on judicial remand. The judge noted that although they had been nominated in the FIR as members of an unlawful assembly, no weapon had been attributed to either accused. Read More: SC suspends trial court order, grants bail to Imaan Mazari, Hadi Ali Chattha On September 27, the court issued a contempt notice to the Adiala jail superintendent after the authorities failed to facilitate the signing and transmission of the documents and also failed to produce the accused through video link. Two days later, the issue was resolved after Imaan and Hadi signed the required powers of attorney. On September 29, the ATC ended the contempt proceedings against the jail authorities and separately confirmed that notices had been issued on the couple’s bail applications, with arguments scheduled before Judge Abul Hasnat. On October 7, the ATC had framed charges against Imaan and Hadi in the case related to the alleged violation of a designated route and incitement during the arrival of an international cricket team, despite defence objections that legal requirements had not been fulfilled.