Court says legal procedure must be followed before seeking relief from Adiala jail meeting
Dr. Shireen Mazari. PHOTO: ZAFAR ASLAM
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday ordered that a petition filed by former federal minister Shireen Mazari rejecting a jail meeting with her daughter Imaan Mazari and son-in-law Hadi Ali Chattha should first be submitted to the superintendent of Adiala jail.
The petition concerns the alleged refusal of the prison authorities to allow Mazari to meet his daughter and son-in-law, who are currently remanded in Adiala prison.
Rights campaigner Imaan Mazari and her husband Chattha were convicted on January 24 in Islamabad in a case linked to alleged posts and reposts on X that investigators described as “anti-state”. The case was registered in August 2025 by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency under the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2016. Authorities alleged that the content was intended to undermine government institutions and align with proscribed organizations or individuals.
The verdicts were widely condemned by members of the legal community, politicians and civil society.
Mazari filed the petition at the IHC on Tuesday seeking enforcement of what she said was her legal right to meet her daughter and son-in-law under prison laws. “I am a mother. I want to meet my daughter and my son-in-law, but you are preventing me,” she said in court.
Read: Shireen Mazari moves IHC to seek right to meet daughter, son-in-law in Adiala jail
Earlier on Tuesday, Mazari had tried to visit his daughter in Adiala prison but was not allowed to meet her.
The case was heard by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir. Mazari appeared in court with his lawyer, Kamran Murtaza, and other lawyers.
During the hearing, the court asked if a formal application had been made to the prison inspector. Addressing Mazari, Justice Tahir said the law required such a request to be made through the appropriate administrative authority before approaching the court.
“You have to first file an application and then come to us,” the judge observed, adding that the procedure laid down in the law must be followed.
The court advised Mazari to approach either Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa or Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig. Justice Tahir said if the request was rejected by the authorities, the court could be approached for relief.
Mazari’s lawyer requested the court to give the prison inspector one or two days to process the application.
The court subsequently dismissed the petition and directed that it be forwarded to the Superintendent of Adiala Jail for appropriate action. No immediate response was issued by the jail authorities following the court’s order.
