Supreme Court issues notices on Imaan Mazari, Hadi Chattha’s pleas

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Additional Attorney General and other respondents on pleas filed by lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha. The lawyers are seeking an early hearing of their appeal against a February 19 Islamabad High Court (IHC) decision in a case concerning social media posts.

A three-member SC bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, heard the case. The court was informed that on January 24, an Islamabad sessions court had sentenced both lawyers to 17 years in jail under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The IHC later denied their request for the suspension of their sentences.

During the hearing, senior counsel Faisal Siddiqui argued that the IHC had not scheduled a new hearing date after a session set for June 4 was cancelled. He stated that a previous Supreme Court directive for the IHC to decide on the suspension pleas within two weeks had not been met.

Justice Mazhar observed that the Supreme Court could not interfere with an interim order of the high court. After the counsel requested the case be fixed for hearing, the court adjourned the proceedings until July 21.

The case originates from a complaint filed on August 12, 2025, under PECA, which accused Mazari of disseminating and propagating narratives related to hostile groups.