Lead

Lawyer couple Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha have filed applications seeking early hearings of their appeals against a 17-year sentence imposed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), as reported by Dawn. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has dismissed prosecution objections that had blocked the suspension of their sentences, clearing the way for a merits hearing.

Coverage Comparison

Dawn reported on multiple developments in the case, covering actions in both the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court. One report focused on Imaan Mazari-Hazir moving the Supreme Court for an early hearing of her criminal appeal, challenging the IHC’s refusal to suspend her sentence. Another report covered the Supreme Court adjourning the hearing in the social media posts case, noting that the court observed it cannot regulate the proceedings of the high court. A third report detailed the couple’s move to seek an early hearing of their suspension of sentence applications before the IHC after the court rejected the prosecution’s maintainability objections.

Key Claims

  • Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir moved the Supreme Court for an early hearing of her criminal appeal, which challenges the Islamabad High Court's refusal to suspend her 17-year sentence in the controversial social media posts case, as reported by Dawn.
  • The Islamabad High Court declared the petitions filed by Imaan Mazari and her husband inadmissible, according to Dawn.
  • The Supreme Court had previously directed the IHC to decide the suspension application as expeditiously as possible, preferably within two weeks, Dawn reported.
  • The couple was sentenced to 17 years in jail on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), as stated by Dawn.
  • The case involves social media posts that allegedly portrayed the armed forces as ineffective against proscribed groups, according to Dawn.
  • The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing in the social media posts case, as reported by Dawn.
  • The Supreme Court observed that it cannot regulate the proceedings of the high court, Dawn reported.
  • Lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha moved the IHC for an early hearing of their applications for suspension of sentence, according to Dawn.
  • The IHC has since dismissed the prosecution's objections, removing the hurdle to hearing the suspension of sentence pleas on merits, Dawn reported.
  • The application alleged that the IHC flouted and disregarded the binding directions of the Supreme Court, as reported by Dawn.