ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court adjourned the case of Human Rights lawyer Imaan Mazari indefinitely on July 21, saying the parties could seek an early hearing if an emergency arose.
A three-member bench led by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar heard petitions concerning the sentences imposed on human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha.
The additional attorney general told the bench that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) would hear the couple’s sentence-suspension applications on July 24.
Justice Muhammad Azam Khan is scheduled to conduct that hearing, according to the IHC cause-list details.
Mazari’s counsel, Faisal Siddiqi, asked the Supreme Court either to hear arguments on the petitions’ maintainability or adjourn the proceedings for two weeks. He said the prosecution had caused the previous postponement.
Justice Mazhar observed that the Supreme Court could not regulate proceedings pending before the high court. He said delaying the apex court case in that manner could amount to supervising the IHC proceedings.
Read: Human Rights Attorney Imaan Mazari Granted Three-Day Remand to Islamabad Police
The additional attorney general argued that the petitioners sought to have the Supreme Court monitor the case. Siddiqi responded that the IHC should then be allowed to continue its proceedings.
The Supreme Court had previously issued notices after the couple sought an early hearing of their challenge to the IHC’s refusal to suspend their sentences.
An Islamabad sessions court sentenced Mazari and Chattha to 17 years in prison each on January 24 over social media posts under multiple provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.
