IHC Adjourns Imaan, Hadi Sentence Suspension Pleas Until June 4

The Islamabad High Court on Monday adjourned the sentence suspension petitions filed by human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, even though the Supreme Court had earlier directed that the matter be decided within a fixed timeframe. The hearing, held in Islamabad, has now been moved to June 4.

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan took up the pleas seeking suspension of the sentences awarded to the husband-wife legal team in a controversial social media posts case. The matter had returned to the IHC after the Supreme Court directed the high court to decide the applications within two weeks from May 12.

The proceedings could not move forward because two members of the three-member special prosecution team were absent. The prosecutor who did appear told the court that one colleague was travelling from Lahore while another was engaged before the IHC chief justice, prompting the judge to question the delay.

During the hearing, Justice Khan noted that the petitions were linked to the Supreme Court’s directive and that the deadline had already passed. Defence counsel also drew attention to the expired timeline, arguing that the court should proceed in a manner that respects the apex court’s order.

The judge observed that he had attended the hearing despite being scheduled for mediation training and had already heard other cases earlier in the day. After the prosecution sought more time, the court consulted the petitioners’ lawyers and fixed the matter for Thursday, June 4.

One of the defence lawyers requested that the prosecution be stopped from seeking further adjournments. The court, however, stated that all sides were already required to comply with the Supreme Court’s order and that the matter would be taken up on the next date.

The case has remained under public attention because Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha have been in jail since their arrest in January. They were arrested in connection with a case linked to a protest outside the IHC and allegations involving the Islamabad High Court Bar Association president.

A sessions court later sentenced the two lawyers to a total of 17 years in prison under provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. The complaint alleged that Imaan had shared material described by investigators as harmful, while Hadi was accused of reposting some of the content.

The lawyers challenged their conviction before the IHC in February and later approached the Supreme Court for early consideration of their sentence suspension pleas. The apex court directed the high court to decide the applications, leaving the matter pending until the IHC issues a decision.

The next hearing will be closely watched by legal circles, rights groups and political observers. The case has become part of a wider debate over cybercrime laws, free expression, court process and the pace at which sentence suspension applications are heard in politically sensitive matters.