May 12, 2026
By Hafeezullah Storai Sherani
ISLAMABAD
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to pass a verdict on the sentence suspension pleas of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha within two weeks.
The apex court ruled that the case will remain pending in the Supreme Court until the High Court reaches a decision on the matter.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, heard the appeal filed by Advocate Faisal Siddiqui. The petitioners moved the apex court after facing persistent delays in the IHC regarding their suspension of sentence.
Today at the hearing of the @ImaanZHazir @AdvHadiali case lawyer Faisal Siddiqui appealed against the non hearing of suspension application at the IHC. The SC directed the Islamabad High Court to decide application within 2 weeks, during which the case will remain pending before…
— Munizae Jahangir (@MunizaeJahangir) May 12, 2026
Explaining the legal context, Advocate Riyasat Ali Azad said, “We had filed a petition under Section 426 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in the Islamabad High Court. Section 426 pertains to the suspension of a sentence while the main appeal is still pending,” he said. “However, the IHC was not deciding on this application; in fact, the case was not even being fixed for hearing. We filed multiple early hearing requests, but they were ignored. Eventually, we challenged this delay in the Supreme Court. Today, the SC ruled that our petition here will remain pending while the IHC has been given two years to decide on the 426 petition.”
Following the hearing, Dr. Shireen Mazari, mother of Imaan Mazari, expressed her gratitude for the Supreme Court’s intervention while speaking to Voicepk.
“I believe the Supreme Court has delivered an excellent decision by maintaining its oversight over the High Court. If the High Court fails to decide within two weeks, this bench remains pending and we can return here. We are very grateful to the Supreme Court,” she said.
Legal fraternity representatives also weighed in on the significance of the directive. Syed Wajid Ali Shah Gillani, President of the Islamabad High Court Bar, commented on it.
“Such directions are part of routine judicial business. The High Court must now decide within the framework provided by the Supreme Court. If they are unable to decide within the given timeframe, they will have to provide a written explanation to the Supreme Court. I am hopeful the High Court will follow the orders.”
Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were arrested under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in connection with their online expression. Both lawyers have now been in custody for over 100 days.
The case has drawn widespread international and domestic condemnation. A coalition of over 100 prominent figures, including journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders, issued a joint statement demanding their release. They argued that the prolonged detention violates the constitutional rights to a fair trial and freedom of expression.
Advocacy groups maintain that the case is a textbook example of the misuse of PECA laws to stifle democratic dialogue and target human rights defenders.