The Supreme Court on Tuesday instructed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to promptly decide the sentence suspension petitions filed by lawyer and rights activist Iman Mazari and her husband, activist Hadi Ali Chattha. A three-judge bench, led by Justice Shahid Waheed and including Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Shafi Siddiqui, heard the case concerning the suspension of their sentences.
The apex court ruled that the matter will remain pending before it until the IHC delivers its verdict. Earlier in January, a district and sessions court in Islamabad sentenced both Mazari and Chattha to 17 years imprisonment each under various provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), following their arrest in a separate case.
In early February, the couple approached the IHC challenging their sentences. During Tuesday’s hearing, Mazari’s counsel, Faisal Siddiqi, informed the bench that the high court had only issued notices on the appeals but had not resumed hearings for over two months. He emphasized that his clients had yet to receive any relief from the IHC and urged the court to order a decision on the suspension pleas.
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan noted that the high court had neither dismissed the suspension applications nor passed any adverse orders against the petitioners. He remarked that if the suspension pleas had been rejected, the Supreme Court could then examine the case on its merits. Justice Afghan also questioned the legal basis for suspending sentences, highlighting the lawyer’s concern about where his clients should seek relief if the IHC fails to act.
Justice Shahid Waheed suggested directing the IHC to decide the appeals within a two-week timeframe. However, the counsel insisted that the court specifically order the IHC to rule on the suspension applications without further delay.
