The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned proceedings after issuing notices to other parties, including the Additional Attorney General, on petitions seeking suspension of sentences awarded to human rights lawyer Iman Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha.
A three-member apex court bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and comprising Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan heard the case today.
During the hearing, senior counsel Faisal Siddiqui contended that the Supreme Court had directed the IHC to decide on the suspension pleas within two weeks. “The SC had kept the case pending with it,” he informed the bench. He added after the order, the IHC heard the case on May 20 and the next hearing was scheduled for June 4. However, the cause list for June 4 was cancelled, and a revised date has not yet been issued, he said.
“We also submitted an urgent appeal, which was returned,” Faisal Siddiqui argued.
Justice Mazhar observed that the SC cannot interfere with an interim order of the high court. He further noted that the IHC had not yet issued notices on the pleas.
Faisal Siddiqui contended that the IHC should fix the case and decide the matter, saying, “Don’t torture us. If you want to decide the case against us, you may do so, but at least fix it for hearing.” He held that the delay in proceedings was unprecedented.
Justice Mazhar recommended that the case be scheduled for next week. At that, the lawyer requested that the hearing be scheduled for the week after. The court accepted the request and adjourned the hearing till July 21.
Imran Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha have been incarcerated at Adiala Jail since January, following their conviction under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
On January 24, 2026, an Islamabad sessions court sentenced each to a total of 17 years — 10 years for “cyber terrorism” under Section 10, five years for “glorification of an offence” under Section 9, and two years for “false information” under Section 26-A. The sentences run concurrently, accompanied by fines.
The allegations stem from social media posts between 2021 and 2025, largely on X (formerly Twitter), in which Mazari and Chattha had expressed solidarity with Baloch and Pashtun activists.
