Key Takeaways
- The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing in the case against social media activists Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha.
- The Islamabad High Court had previously denied their request for sentence suspension while issuing notices on it.
- The court ruled that if an emergency arises, they can file a petition for an early hearing.
The Supreme Court (SC) adjourned the hearing in the controversial social media posts case against Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha on Tuesday. The couple, who were sentenced to a total of 17 years in jail by an Islamabad sessions court on January 24, 2025, sought an early hearing of their challenge to the February 19 decision of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
During the adjourned hearing, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar observed that the SC cannot regulate the proceedings of the high court. Advocate Siddiqui argued that the court had been issuing orders to high courts in several cases, but the bench responded that there was a difference between regulating and issuing orders.
The additional attorney general informed the bench that the case in the IHC has been scheduled for hearing on July 24. However, Siddiqui contended that the case was scheduled due to the hearing in the SC. The couple’s lawyer requested the court to hear his arguments on the legal point of admissibility or to adjourn the case for two weeks.
The court ruled that such an adjournment would be tantamount to monitoring the IHC's proceedings and adjourned the hearing, ruling that if an emergency arises, they can file a petition for an early hearing. The SC also noted that the case stems from a complaint filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) on August 12, 2025.
The controversy at the centre of the case involves allegations that Imaan and Hadi had disseminated narratives aligning with hostile terrorist groups and proscribed organisations. The FIR alleged that they held security forces responsible for cases of missing persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, portraying the armed forces as ineffective against proscribed groups.
Senior counsel Faisal Siddiqi, who represents Imaan and Hadi, cut a chocolate cake after the SC hearing on the occasion of Imaan’s birthday. Former minister Shireen Mazari, right activists Afrasiab Khattak, Farhatullah Babar, and Tahir Abdullah, and several lawyers were also present.
The adjournment reflects the ongoing legal battle between the couple and authorities over their social media activities, with the Supreme Court taking a cautious stance on regulating lower court proceedings.
