The Supreme Court on Thursday approved petitions seeking suspension of sentences for lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, effectively halting the punishments issued by the trial court. The court also granted bail to Imaan Mazari, ordering her release upon furnishing surety bonds of Rs200,000.

During the hearing, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan acknowledged the professional status of both petitioners as lawyers but emphasized the importance of maintaining court decorum. He remarked on the distinction between lawyers and ordinary citizens, underscoring their responsibility to uphold legal standards.

In a significant development, the Supreme Court directed that the trial court’s verdict against Mazari and Chattha be suspended, marking a key step in the ongoing legal battle. The couple had challenged their convictions and sought suspension of their sentences through these petitions.

The case originates from a complaint filed by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Islamabad on August 12, 2025, under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). The FIR accused Mazari of spreading narratives that aligned with hostile terrorist groups and banned organizations, while Chattha was implicated for reposting some of her social media content.

The allegations included holding security forces accountable for missing persons cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and portraying the armed forces as ineffective against proscribed groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). On January 24, 2026, an Islamabad sessions court sentenced the couple to a combined 17 years in prison on multiple charges under Peca.

The convictions sparked criticism from parts of the legal community and UN experts. Mazari and Chattha subsequently appealed the verdict before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on February 7. On July 25, the IHC declared their petitions for sentence suspension admissible after dismissing prosecution claims that the pleas were premature.

The case has since drawn attention due to delays in deciding the sentence-suspension applications, prompting concerns from lawyers’ bodies about the slow judicial process. A day prior to the Supreme Court hearing, leaders from the Islamabad Bar Council, Islamabad High Court Bar Association, and Islamabad District Bar Association urged immediate enforcement of an earlier Supreme Court order regarding the suspension of the sentences.

At a joint press conference, Islamabad Bar Council member Advocate Aleem Abbasi criticized the trial as rushed and accused the prosecution of employing delaying tactics despite appeals being filed before the IHC. He noted that the Supreme Court had instructed the IHC to resolve the suspension requests within two weeks, but four months had elapsed without action.

Abbasi emphasized that the right to a fair trial applies universally, regardless of the charges involved. He stated that the lawyers’ demand focused on securing constitutional rights for Mazari and Chattha, not on contesting the substance of the allegations. He also highlighted the risk of systemic chaos if the Supreme Court’s directives were not implemented promptly.

Lawyers’ organizations have maintained that their call concerns enforcing legal and constitutional protections rather than judging the merits of the accusations. The case has gained broader attention due to the stringent sentences under Peca and the wider debate about the prosecution of lawyers and human rights defenders for their social media activities.