The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has set July 24 to hear the sentence suspension petitions filed by lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha in connection with the contentious tweets case. Justice Muhammad Azam Khan will preside over the hearing, as per the cause list released by the IHC Registrar’s Office.
In a significant development, the Supreme Court had ordered on May 12 that the high court must decide on these suspension petitions within two weeks. The matter was initially scheduled for June 4 before the IHC, but the cause list was subsequently withdrawn without rescheduling.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is also scheduled to review the sentence suspension pleas on July 21. Earlier this month, the apex court issued notices to the Additional Attorney General and other respondents following applications by Mazari and Chattha requesting expedited hearings of their appeals.
Previously, an Islamabad sessions court sentenced the duo to a combined 17 years imprisonment on January 24 under various sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. Their requests for sentence suspension were denied by the IHC on February 19.
During a hearing before a three-member Supreme Court bench led by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, it was noted that the IHC had been directed to decide the suspension pleas within two weeks. Counsel Faisal Siddiqui informed the court that the IHC had heard the matter on May 20 and fixed June 4 for further proceedings, but the cause list was cancelled thereafter and no new date was assigned. He also mentioned that an urgent application had been returned without consideration.
Justice Mazhar remarked that while the Supreme Court cannot interfere with an interim order issued by the high court, the matter should still be scheduled for hearing. The Supreme Court hearing was then adjourned until July 21.
The case originates from a cybercrime complaint filed in August 2025, accusing Mazari of disseminating narratives linked to banned organizations, with Chattha alleged to have shared some of her posts.
