Civil society decries delay in hearing Imaan, Hadi’s pleas

Islamabad witnessed a gathering of veteran journalists and civil society members expressing deep worry over the ongoing delay in addressing the petitions filed by human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha. These lawyers are seeking to have their sentences suspended while their appeals are pending.

Despite the Supreme Court's order on May 12, 2026, mandating the Islamabad High Court to decide the matter within two weeks, the applications remain unresolved. Repeated adjournments, along with their continued incarceration, have raised serious questions about the timely and effective judicial remedies available in the country.

Notable figures from journalism and civil society, such as Hussain Naqi, Farhatullah Babar, Zahid Hussain, Mustansar Javaid, and many others, have voiced their concerns over these delays. They argue that such prolonged procedural delays can challenge fundamental constitutional rights related to liberty, due process, and fair trials, as outlined in Articles 4, 9, and 10-A of the Constitution.

The prolonged legal proceedings and incarceration pending appeal are particularly worrisome as they could have a chilling effect on the legal profession and independent human rights defenders. The signatories emphasize the importance of ensuring that individuals actively engaged in lawful, rights-based advocacy are not subjected to judicial processes that could become punitive in themselves.

They stress that the rule of law is bolstered by not just the mere existence of legal remedies, but by their accessibility, timeliness, and effectiveness. With the next hearing set for September 17, they urge the Supreme Court to act swiftly and decide on the suspension applications without further delay, in order to protect constitutional guarantees and uphold the principle of timely justice.