IHC defers Imaan Mazari, Hadi Ali sentence suspension hearing until June 4

The Islamabad High Court on Monday adjourned the sentence suspension hearing for human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha until June 4 after the prosecution's three-member special team was unavailable to appear before the court.

What is the Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali sentence suspension case?

Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, both human rights lawyers, have filed petitions seeking suspension of their sentences in a social media-related case.

The Supreme Court had directed the Islamabad High Court on May 12 to decide on the pleas within two weeks, binding all parties to that timeline.

Why did the IHC adjourn the hearing on June 2?

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan heard the petitions and was informed by the prosecutor that the special prosecution team could not appear. One member was traveling from Lahore, while another was appearing before Court No. 1.

The court declined a request to wait and set June 4 as the next hearing date.

What did the IHC say about repeated delays?

Advocate Riasat Ali Azad told the court that the Supreme Court's prescribed timeframe had already lapsed.

When counsel Faisal Siddiqi asked the court to instruct the prosecution against seeking further adjournments, Justice Azam Khan said repeated delays were not desirable. He reminded all parties that they remained bound by the Supreme Court's order.

The hearing concluded without any substantive proceedings.