Lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari, daughter of politician Shireen Mazari. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Lawyer Imaan Mazari has applied to the Supreme Court to request the suspension of her sentence in a case linked to “anti-state” publications on social networks.
The human rights lawyer moved the apex court after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) failed to list her plea for suspension of her 17-year sentence for hearing.
Mazari filed the petition through renowned lawyer Faisal Siddiqi. The petition states that despite her lawyer’s vehement request to stay the trial court’s judgment, the IHC only issued notices on the stay request on February 19 and did not suspend the petitioner’s sentence.
He argues that the trial court’s order was totally illegal and clearly in bad faith, as it violated the requirements of due process under Articles 10 and 10A of the Constitution and violated the mandatory provisions of Articles 526, 233, 234, 353 and 367 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.
The order also contravened the IHC’s binding orders, denied Mazari the right to counsel of her choice and the right to cross-examine, and recorded the defendant’s statement without her consent.
This also involved appointing a prosecutor against his will, relying on inadmissible documents including an analysis report and even an admitted case file, and failing to establish an offense under Sections 9, 10 and 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA).
“Regarding the urgent request for early hearing filed by the petitioner, the IHC, by a further order dated 27-02-2026, neither granted the request for early hearing nor fixed a date for the same, but instead referred the matter to the Chief Justice of the IHC.”
It states that as the applicant’s criminal appeal was not resolved before the IHC, applications for an early hearing were subsequently filed on her behalf.
“However, much to the surprise of the petitioner, the IHC Office, through an administrative order dated 05-03-2026, returned the request for early hearing on the ground that the previous request for early hearing was still pending.”
It remains to be seen whether the SC office will register Imaan Mazari’s petition against the IHC interim order for hearing.
If the petition is assigned a number, a three-judge committee comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail will decide whether the case should be listed.
