Mazari and Chattha have contested the conviction on 24 January before the High Court
Lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court on Saturday issued a written order in the controversial tweets case, issuing notices of appeals filed against the convictions of rights activist and lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha.
The court also issued notices on applications for stay of their sentence.
Justice Muhammad Asif released a two-page written order after the hearing.
According to the ruling, Mazari and Chattha have challenged the conviction on January 24 before the High Court. The petitioners’ counsel argued that the decision was not legally sound and should be declared null and void.
Read: Imaan Mazari, husband jailed in PECA case
On January 24, a trial court in Islamabad handed down a combined 17-year prison sentence to both Mazari and Chattha, convicting them on multiple charges linked to controversial social media posts that the prosecution argued amounted to an anti-state narrative under cybercrime laws.
During today’s hearing, the court ordered the land registry office to prepare the case’s paper books. It was ordered that the matter should be investigated for hearing after the paper books have been prepared.
The court has not indicated a date for the early processing of the applications for suspension of sentence. The counsel for the petitioners had requested that pleas for suspension of sentence and release on bail be fixed for early hearing.
Earlier, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad granted bail to both in a case involving a confrontation with the police.
Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain ruled in favor of the accused and granted bail after arrest on surety of Rs10,000 each.
Read more: Imaan Mazari, Hadi Ali Chattha granted bail by ATC in police brawl
The case, registered at the Secretariat police station, involves allegations of a police dispute and public protest.
Representing the accused, Public Prosecutor Ali Azad argued that the charges were baseless as the FIR was filed based on fabricated and non-existent events.
After hearing arguments from both parties, the court passed a favorable order in favor of the accused.
