Pakistan's Supreme Court directed the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday to decide within two weeks on petitions seeking suspension of sentences handed to lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari and lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha.
Both were convicted in a case linked to alleged anti-state posts on X. The apex court said the matter would remain pending before it until the IHC issues its ruling.
What were Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha sentenced for?
Mazari and Chattha were arrested on January 23 and sentenced to 17 years each in prison over allegations of anti-state content posted on X.
The case was brought by Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency under PECA. Their sentences include 10 years for cyberterrorism and five years for glorification of related offences, along with fines of Rs. 36 million each.
What happened at the Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday?
The directive came from a three-judge bench comprising Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Shafi Siddiqui.
Defense counsel Faisal Siddiqi argued that mandatory procedural safeguards had not been observed during the trial, including that the accused were not given adequate opportunity for cross-examination. He also said their statements had not been recorded under Section 342 of Pakistan's criminal procedure code, which allows defendants to respond to evidence against them.
Siddiqi pointed out that the IHC had yet to decide the suspension pleas despite more than two months having passed since they were filed.
"If the high court does not decide the matter and the Supreme Court also refuses to examine the merits, then which court should I go to?" he asked the bench. He maintained that in exceptional circumstances the Supreme Court could directly hear suspension matters.
What options did the Supreme Court consider for Mazari and Chattha?
Justice Waheed outlined two options during the hearing: directing the IHC to decide the matter expeditiously, or issuing directions while keeping the petitions pending before the Supreme Court. Siddiqi opted for the second approach, arguing that the high court would otherwise remain under the shadow of the apex court. The bench ultimately directed the IHC to rule within two weeks, while retaining the matter at the Supreme Court level.
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan responded to arguments about the Supreme Court's jurisdiction by referencing recent judicial reforms and constitutional amendments, noting that parliament had the authority to legislate constitutional changes. Siddiqi maintained that in criminal matters the Supreme Court remained the ultimate judicial forum. Justice Shafi Siddiqui also remarked that Siddiqi had taken "considerable airtime" during arguments, prompting a lighter exchange in the courtroom.
Siddiqi told the bench that Mazari was "like a sister" to him. Justice Shahid Waheed responded: "Above all, she is the daughter of this country."
The case has drawn significant attention from legal and human rights circles in Pakistan, with bar associations and international observers closely tracking its progress since the January arrests.
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