Defense counsel for human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha requested the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday to formally dispose of their pending petitions seeking the suspension of their 17-year sentences in a social media cybercrime case, citing the interim relief already granted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
What transpired during the Islamabad High Court hearing on disposing of the pleas?
During proceedings presided over by Justice Azam Khan, Advocate Faisal Siddiqui, representing Mazari and Chattha, submitted at the outset that the sentence suspension petitions had been rendered redundant following the apex court's intervention and should be disposed of accordingly.
Justice Azam Khan remarked that the petitioners had already secured relief and inquired whether the Supreme Court had issued specific directives regarding the hearing of the main appeals. Counsel Siddiqui clarified that while the Supreme Court suspended the operation of the sentences, it had not issued specific mandates regarding the appeals. In response, the special prosecutor argued that following the "extraordinary relief" granted by the apex court, the main appeals before the High Court stood effectively revived. Justice Khan subsequently concluded the hearing, observing that the bench would issue a formal written order regarding the disposal of the petitions.
How did the Supreme Court intervention prompt the request to dispose of the High Court petitions?
The request to dispose of the High Court pleas follows a decision on September 17, 2026, by a two-member Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim. The apex court suspended the 17-year prison sentences handed down to the lawyer couple in January 2026 under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and granted bail against surety bonds of Rs 200,000 each.
The Supreme Court noted procedural delays at the High Court level that exceeded earlier directives issued in May. While the sentence suspension pleas before the IHC are being wrapped up, the couple remains subject to separate judicial remand orders stemming from secondary public protest FIRs registered in Islamabad.
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