Lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari, daughter of senior politician Shireen Mazari. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Lawyer Imaan Mazari has approached the Supreme Court asking for a stay of his sentence in a case related to making “anti-government” posts on social media.
The human rights lawyer has moved the apex court after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) did not list her application for suspension of her 17-year imprisonment for hearing.
Mazari filed the petition through renowned lawyer Faisal Siddiqi. The petition states that despite her lawyer’s strong request to stay the high court’s judgment, the IHC only issued notices of the suspension application on February 19 and did not suspend the petitioner’s sentence.
It contends that the trial court’s order was wholly illegal and manifestly mala fide as it violated due process requirements under Article 10 and 10A of the Constitution, violated mandatory provisions of Sections 526, 233, 234, 353 and 367 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.
The order also violated binding IHC orders, denied Mazari the right to choose a lawyer and the right to cross-examination, and recorded the accused’s statement without her consent.
It also involved the appointment of a public prosecutor against her wishes, relied on inadmissible documents including an analysis report and even on admitted records, and failed to establish any offense under Sections 9, 10 and 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA).
“On the urgent request for early hearing filed by the petitioner, the IHC through a further order dated 27-02-2026 neither granted the request for early hearing nor fixed any date for it but instead referred the matter to the IHC Chief.”
It says that because the petitioner’s criminal appeal was not determined before the IHC, requests for early hearing were subsequently filed on her behalf.
“However, to the shock and surprise of the petitioner, the Office of the IHC, through an administrative order dated 05-03-2026, returned the application for early hearing on the grounds that the earlier application for early hearing was still pending.”
It remains to be seen whether the SC office will list Imaan Mazari’s petition against the IHC’s 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 on the conduct of the case.
