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SC Sets Deadline: IHC Must Decide on Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali’s Sentence Suspension Within Two Weeks
Apex Court Intervention: A three-judge bench, led by Justice Shahid Waheed, issued the directive today, May 12, 2026. While the Supreme Court declined to grant immediate relief itself, it officially kept the matter pending on its own docket to ensure the lower court acts swiftly
ND
by News Desk
2026-05-12
SC Sets Deadline: IHC Must Decide on Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali’s Sentence Suspension Within Two Weeks

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has stepped in to break the legal deadlock regarding the 17-year prison sentences handed to human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha.

The Directives from the Bench

During a hearing led by Justice Shahid Waheed, the apex court officially ordered the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to decide on the couple’s sentence suspension pleas within two weeks.

To ensure the matter isn't further delayed, the Supreme Court took the unusual step of keeping the case pending on its own docket until the IHC reaches a final decision.

The Defense’s Argument: "Inaction is an Order"

The couple’s lawyer, Faisal Siddiqi, expressed frustration over the IHC's perceived gridlock, pointing out that no significant progress had been made on the appeals in over two months.

  • The Plea for Relief: Siddiqi argued that while the IHC had issued notices back in February, it had failed to actually list the application for a decisive hearing.

  • Judicial Observation: While Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan noted that the IHC hadn't technically rejected the plea, the defense countered that the lack of any relief from the High Court left the petitioners with nowhere else to turn but the Supreme Court.

Background of the Conviction

The case stems from a January 2026 judgment where the couple was sentenced to 17 years in prison. The prosecution successfully argued that their social media activity promoted an "anti-state narrative" under the country’s cybercrime laws.

Legal Defects Claimed

The petition filed in the Supreme Court claims the original trial was "mala fide" (conducted in bad faith) and violated several constitutional rights, including:

  • Fair Trial Violations: Breach of Articles 10 and 10A of the Constitution.

  • Procedural Failures: Alleged violations of multiple sections of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), including mandatory rules on how evidence is recorded and how trials are conducted.
Tagged:

#ImaanMazari #HadiAli #SupremeCourt #IHC #JusticeShahidWaheed #BreakingNews #PakistanJudiciary #HumanRights #SentenceSuspension #DueProcess #CyberCrimeLaw #PECA #Islamabad #LegalUpdate2026 #RuleOfLaw
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