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, seeking an early hearing of their challenge to a Feb 19 Islamabad High Court (IHC) decision in the controversial social media posts case. On Jan 24, an Islamabad sessions court sentenced Imaan and Hadi to a total of 17 years in jail on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).

On Feb 19, the IHC had denied the lawyers’ plea for the suspension of their sentences. A three-member SC bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and comprising Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan heard the case on Monday. During the hearing, senior counsel Faisal Siddiqui contended that the SC had directed the IHC to decide on the suspension pleas within two weeks. “The SC had kept the case pending with it,” he informed the bench.

He added that after the order, the IHC heard the case on May 20 and the next hearing was scheduled for June 4. However, the cause list for June 4 was cancelled, and a revised date has not yet been issued, he said. “We also submitted an urgent appeal, which was returned,” Siddiqui argued. Justice Mazhar observed that the SC cannot interfere with an interim order of the high court. He further noted that the IHC had not yet issued notices on the pleas.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)