• Hadi appears in court; Imaan represented by lawyers.
• SC instructed hearing of both parties before verdict.
• Verdict can be given based on available record: AAG. 
  

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed the trial court, seized with controversial social media posts case against Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha, to re-record witnesses’ statements within three days.

IHC Justice Mohammed Azam Khan issued the directives while hearing a petition filed by Mazari, challenging the trial court’s November 19 order. Chatha appeared before the court, while Mazari was represented by her lawyers.

“Merit is not being considered. We are directing the trial court to re-record the witnesses’ testimonies within three days […] Supreme Court has directed us to decide the matter at the earliest,” Justice Azam Khan remarked while hearing the case.

Defence counsel Riasat Ali told the court that the Supreme Court had instructed that both parties be heard before a decision.

During the hearing, the assistant attorney general said that all records were present before the court and argued that the testimonies recorded so far were legally valid. “All records are before the court. A verdict can be made based on them,” he said.

The IHC judge raised questions about trial procedures and the presence of legal representatives. “If Imaan Mazari was not present in court, was her pleader present?” Justice Azam Khan asked.

The court also sought clarification on the timeline for re-recording the testimonies. “How long will it take to re-record the testimonies?” Justice Azam Khan asked the defence counsel.

Advocate Riasat requested more time, saying that arguments on merit would be presented by Faisal Siddiqui. “If we are to hear the matter on merit, we need time. Faisal Siddiqui will present the arguments,” he said.

Justice Azam Khan instructed that the case be adjourned till tomorrow and asked Faisal Siddiqui to appear for arguments.

Meanwhile, the apex court, last week, issued directives to halt the trial of lawyer Mazari and her husband in the controversial tweets case.

A three-member SC bench comprising Justice Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim heard and accepted Mazari’s plea against the Islamabad High Court verdict which had dismissed the lawyer’s plea seeking to stop the trial in the additional sessions judge’s court.

The court, in its verdict, said that the trial in the said case should be halted till the decision of the IHC.

Mazari and Chattha were booked in a case registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under Sections 9, 10, 11 and 26 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016 and were subsequently indicted on October 30.

Niall Horan, who is one of the coaches on The Voice season 28, was absent from the finale promo.

The latest teaser released by NBC featured Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, Michael Bublé and Ralp Edwards.

The former One Direction member’s absence was mainly noticed by fans, who flooded the comment section asking about him.

On Monday’s episode, the host of the show Carson Daly mentioned that Niall was “really under the weather” and shared that the Slow Hands singer won’t be joining the live show.

The singer, however, showed up and revealed that he is “feeling a little better”, but his doctors have prescribed him a vocal rest, which means that he will no longer be performing along with his two finalists from his team.

Horan’s fellow coach McEntire praised the Irish singer for prioritizing his health and taking rest.

She told him, “I’m very proud of you, Niall, for making sure you take care of yourself because we want you around with your beautiful voice for many years to come.”

Fans are upset to know that Niall won’t be taking the stage for the finale episode. They are saying that “the finale won’t be the same.”

One of them wrote, “Niall Isn’t singing? Oh we so lost.”

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson appear ‘unfazed’ by King Charles’ stern decision as the holiday approaches.

There are high chances that the former Duke and Duchess of York won’t join the royal family at their traditional Sandringham gathering for Christmas after their downfall.

The ex-couple left with no royal perks, and also in the coming days, they will be ordered to leave the massive Royal Lodge.

But, according to a royal author, Andrew Lownie, Andrew and Fergie will not have a “terrible” Christmas as they still have plenty of ways to celebrate it.

As per Cosmopolitan, he said, “I [think] they would take advantage of this last Christmas to do all sorts of entertaining there. They’ve got friends… there are friends that go back a long way, and [have] stuck with them. Andrew still has his shooting friends.”

Andrew and Sarah might throw a ‘party’ at the massive royal house before eviction.

On the other hand, there is a chance that Beatrice and Eugenie’s parents may join their friends at their place and make the most of the special time after being in the negative headlines for too long.

Earlier, the source claimed that their daughters are in a ‘dilemma’ as they will surely get an invitation by the King for Sandringham Christmas, but the Princesses also want to be with their parents in an hour of need.