Pakistan’s Supreme Court has directed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to decide within two weeks the petitions seeking suspension of prison sentences awarded to human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha.
The directive was issued during a hearing held by a three-member bench of the apex court. The bench included Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Justice Shafi Siddiqui.
The Supreme Court also stated that the matter would remain pending before it until the Islamabad High Court announces its decision on the petitions.
During the proceedings, counsel for Imaan Mazari informed the court that the IHC had not heard the matter for more than two months. The lawyer argued that repeated delays were preventing the petitioners from receiving timely legal relief.
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan observed that the Islamabad High Court had not passed any negative order against the couple so far. He noted that the petitions had not been dismissed and were still awaiting decision.
Justice Shahid Waheed stressed that the Supreme Court expected the IHC to decide the matter within the two-week period. The remarks were seen as an effort to speed up proceedings in the case.
The petitioners’ lawyer also requested the Supreme Court to formally direct the high court to issue its ruling without further delay. During the hearing, Justice Afghan questioned under what legal conditions a sentence suspension could be granted.
The case involving Imaan Mazari has attracted national and international attention in recent months. On January 24, 2026, an Islamabad court sentenced Imaan Mazari and her husband to 17 years in prison each.
The convictions were handed down under Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The charges were linked to social media posts shared between 2021 and 2025.
According to the case details, the posts allegedly included anti-state content, criticism of military institutions, support for Baloch and Pashtun activists, and references to enforced disappearances.
The couple was arrested on January 23, 2026, while traveling to court. Rights organizations later criticized the legal proceedings and raised concerns about due process.
International human rights groups, including Amnesty International, called for their immediate release. Some United Nations experts also expressed concern over the convictions and described the couple as prisoners of conscience.
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As of May 2026, Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha remain imprisoned at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi while their legal battle continues in higher courts.
