ISLAMABAD, May 12 — The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday directed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to decide upon the sentence suspension pleas of human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, within two weeks. A three-judge bench, led by Justice Shahid Waheed, ordered that the matter remain pending before the apex court until the IHC reaches a decision. The couple is currently serving a 17-year prison sentence handed down in January under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for controversial social media posts.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court has directed the Islamabad High Court to decide the appeals and suspension of sentence applications of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha within two weeks. Until then, the case stays pending before SC. pic.twitter.com/KMw3XyUYqk
— Alifya Sohail (@AlifyaSohail) May 12, 2026
Quick Facts
- The SC gave the IHC a 14-day deadline to rule on the suspension of the couple’s sentence.
- Imaan and Hadi were sentenced to 17 years in prison on January 24, 2026.
- Charges include cyber-terrorism, glorification of an offense, and spreading fake information.
- Defense counsel Faisal Siddiqi argued that legal requirements, such as cross-examination, were bypassed during the trial.
- The IHC has kept the suspension pleas pending for two months without a final ruling.
- The SC will keep the applications pending to maintain judicial oversight over the high court’s proceedings.
During the hearing, the couple’s counsel highlighted significant procedural lapses, asserting that statements under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code were never recorded. He questioned the legal recourse available to the accused when a high court delays relief for months. While the bench deliberated on whether to interfere in a matter under high court jurisdiction, it ultimately opted to issue a time-bound directive to ensure the “due process and fair trial rights” of the petitioners are not further compromised.
The case originated from a 2025 complaint by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency, accusing the duo of propagating narratives aligned with proscribed organizations. The legal battle has drawn intense scrutiny from rights bodies and journalists, particularly regarding the speed of the 17-year sentencing, which occurred just one day after a separate arrest for protesting. The Supreme Court’s intervention today serves as a critical procedural check as the IHC prepares to re-examine the merits of the conviction.
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