Pakistan Supreme Court registry raises objections to Imaan Mazari plea against 17-year sentence

Pakistan's Supreme Court registry has declined to process a petition by human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari seeking suspension of her 17-year prison sentence in a social media case.

Mazari approached the Supreme Court after the Islamabad High Court did not take up her suspension request on an urgent basis. The petition was filed through senior lawyer Faisal Siddiqi.

What objections did the Supreme Court registry raise against Imaan Mazari's petition?

The Supreme Court Registrar's Office raised four procedural objections to Mazari's filing. These concerned the power of attorney, incomplete counsel details, and deficiencies in the petition's subject line, prayer clause, and certification. Her legal team is expected to challenge those objections and seek formal registration of the case.

If the petition clears those hurdles, a three-member committee will decide whether to list the matter before the court. That committee comprises Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Munib Akhtar, and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail.

What did Mazari argue in her Islamabad High Court appeal?

Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, had earlier filed a separate appeal in the Islamabad High Court challenging their conviction and seeking suspension of sentence and bail. They argued the trial court's judgment should be declared void, citing serious procedural irregularities. Their lawyers contended the verdict was issued on Jan. 24, 2026, while a transfer petition in the same case was still pending before the High Court.

The appeal also alleged the couple's right to a fair defense was restricted and that transparency was lacking during proceedings. It further claimed that allegations of mistreatment during their arrest were not properly examined.

What was Imaan Mazari convicted of?

On Jan. 24, 2026, a district and sessions court in Islamabad convicted Mazari and Chattha and sentenced both to 17 years in prison. The case stemmed from posts and reposts on X, formerly Twitter, that authorities described as anti-state. Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency registered the case in August 2025 under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, accusing the couple of attempting to incite divisions and damage the reputation of state institutions.

How did the international community respond to the convictions?

The convictions drew criticism from international human rights organizations. On Feb. 2, Amnesty International called for the couple's immediate and unconditional release. Two days later, a group of United Nations special rapporteurs expressed concern over the sentences, saying the pair had been punished for exercising rights protected under international human rights law.

The Supreme Court filing is Mazari's latest legal attempt to secure relief. Both she and her husband remain imprisoned.