ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the federal government and other respondents on a petition seeking the suspension of the sentences awarded to lawyer Imaan Mazari and Barrister Hadi Ali Chattha, while observing that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) should hear and decide their pending applications for sentence suspension.
A SC three-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and comprising Justice Mussarat Hilali and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan heard the petition.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners, Faisal Siddiqi, informed the court that despite an earlier Supreme Court direction, the IHC had yet to decide the applications seeking suspension of the sentences.
He submitted that the matter was first scheduled for hearing on May 20 and later adjourned to June 4. However, the June 4 cause list was subsequently cancelled, and the case has not been fixed for hearing since. He added that an application seeking an early hearing had also been filed before the IHC but was returned without being entertained.
The counsel requested the apex court to ensure that the case is heard and decided, arguing that the petitioners only sought a decision on their pending applications, irrespective of the outcome.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar observed that the Supreme Court generally does not interfere in proceedings pending before high courts, even in matters involving interim orders. He noted that in the present case, the Islamabad High Court had not yet issued notices to the prosecution.
After hearing the arguments, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Additional Attorney General and other respondents and adjourned the hearing until July 21.
The petition seeks suspension of the sentences awarded to Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha while their appeals remain pending before the Islamabad High Court. The apex court had earlier directed the IHC to decide the applications expeditiously, but the matter remains unresolved.
IHC puts off hearing in Imaan Mazari, Chattha case despite SC deadline
