IHC adjourns Imaan, Hadi's sentence suspension pleas in social media posts case until Sept 23

In a recent development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has postponed the hearing of petitions requesting the suspension of sentences for lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha. The hearing was initially scheduled to take place on May 26 but has now been moved to September 23. Lawyers Faisal Siddiqui, Riasat Ali Azad, Zainab Janjua, and others represented the couple during the proceedings.

However, the lack of a National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) prosecutor has impeded substantial progress in the case. Imaan and Hadi were arrested on January 23 for protesting outside the IHC and allegedly mistreating the IHC Bar Association president. This incident sparked criticism from rights groups, politicians, and journalists, emphasizing the couple's right to a fair trial.

Subsequently, a sessions court sentenced them to a combined total of 17 years in prison under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). The couple's convictions were challenged by filing separate appeals in the IHC on February 7, which were later admitted and notices were issued to the respondents. Despite the May 26 deadline for deciding the sentence suspension pleas, the NCCIA contested the order seeking its withdrawal.

In July, the IHC declared the pleas admissible, allowing the proceedings to continue. The couple had also sought an early hearing for their separate appeal in July.