The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday declared applications filed by lawyer Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha seeking suspension of their sentences maintainable in the controversial social media posts case. Imaan, a rights activist and lawyer, and Chattha, an advocate, were in January 2026 handed a combined 17-year sentence on multiple charges linked to controversial social media posts that the prosecution argued amounted to an anti-state narrative under cybercrime laws. The court had reserved its decision on the prosecution's miscellaneous application a day earlier after hearing arguments from both sides.
The court today dismissed the prosecution's miscellaneous application challenging the maintainability of the applications. Justice Muhammad Azam Khan issued the reserved verdict. The prosecution had objected that the applications filed by Imaan and Chattha were premature.
Following its ruling, the court adjourned the hearing on the sentence suspension applications indefinitely. Read: IHC reserves decision on maintainability of Imaan Mazari, Chattha sentence suspension pleas During Friday's hearing, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) raised objections to the maintainability of the applications as the agency counsel argued that the applications had been filed prematurely. "We request that our miscellaneous application be heard first.
If the other miscellaneous application is heard before ours, our application will become ineffective," the counsel submitted. Counsel for Imaan and Chattha, Faisal Siddiqui, told the court that he was ready to present arguments on the miscellaneous application. "They are saying that if the applications for suspension of sentence are dismissed, then both matters should be heard together," he argued.
Addressing the defence counsel, Justice Khan remarked that he should prepare first, adding that it would be better for the protection of his rights. In response, Siddiqui said he waived his rights and was ready to present his arguments. SC and IHC pleas In March, Imaan approached the Supreme Court (SC) seeking suspension of her sentence, moving the apex court after the IHC did not list her application for hearing.
Filed through Siddiqi, the petition stated that despite her counsel's request to suspend the trial court's judgment, the IHC only issued notices on the suspension application on February 19, and that…
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