New twist in Imaan Mazari case as IHC fixes July 24 hearing
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has fixed July 24 for hearing the sentence suspension applications of lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha. Justice Muhammad Azam Khan will hear the matter, according to the cause list issued by the IHC Registrar’s Office.
The Supreme Court had earlier ordered the high court on May 12 to decide the sentence suspension pleas within two weeks. The case was first scheduled for hearing on June 4, but the cause list was later cancelled, causing further delay in the proceedings.
The same sentence suspension pleas are also set to come before the Supreme Court on July 21. Earlier this month, the apex court issued notices to the Additional Attorney General and other respondents after Mazari and Chattha requested an early hearing of their appeal.
An Islamabad sessions court sentenced the two lawyers to a combined 17 years in prison on January 24 under different sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. Later, on February 19, the Islamabad High Court dismissed their requests to suspend the sentences.
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During a previous Supreme Court hearing, a three-member bench led by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar was informed that the high court had heard the case on May 20 and scheduled it for June 4. However, the hearing did not take place because the cause list was cancelled, and no new date was announced at that time.
Lawyer Faisal Siddiqui argued before the Supreme Court that even an urgent application seeking an earlier hearing had been returned. Justice Mazhar noted that the Supreme Court could not interfere with an interim order of the high court but said the case should be fixed for hearing. The matter was then adjourned until July 21.
The case began after a cybercrime complaint was filed in August 2025. The complaint accused Imaan Mazari of sharing content that allegedly supported narratives linked to banned groups, while Hadi Ali Chattha was accused of reposting some of that content.
