ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday suspended the sentences of lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in a case related to their social media posts and ordered their release on bail pending a final decision by the Islamabad High Court.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim approved the couple’s applications seeking suspension of their sentences. The court also suspended the trial court’s verdict and granted bail against surety bonds of Rs200,000 each.
The relief will remain in place until the Islamabad High Court reaches a final decision in the case.
During the hearing, Justice Afghan asked the lawyers to explain what had happened after the Supreme Court’s earlier order directing the high court to decide the sentence-suspension applications within two weeks.
Counsel Faisal Siddiqui told the court that the Supreme Court had issued the direction on May 12, but proceedings before the Islamabad High Court had been adjourned repeatedly. He also informed the bench that a request for an early hearing had been rejected by the IHC registrar.
Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim remarked that “these are the times of surprises” during the proceedings.
The bench then heard arguments from Siddiqui before allowing the applications and suspending the sentences.
Justice Afghan observed that both petitioners were lawyers and said the court was respecting their status. He, however, directed counsel to advise them to maintain the decorum of the court.
“There is a difference between a lawyer and an ordinary person,” Justice Afghan remarked.
Following the announcement, Imaan’s mother and former federal minister Shireen Mazari became emotional and said the family had continued praying for the couple’s release. She thanked those who had supported them during the proceedings.
Siddiqui also expressed happiness over the court’s decision and the release of his client.
PECA case and convictions
The case originated from a complaint registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) in August 2025.
The prosecution alleged that Mazari had disseminated social media content that promoted narratives associated with hostile and proscribed groups, while Chattha was accused of reposting some of her posts.
The allegations included claims concerning the role of security forces in cases involving missing persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and criticism of the armed forces in relation to groups including the Baloch Liberation Army and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
An Islamabad sessions court sentenced the couple on January 24, 2026, to a combined 17 years in prison on multiple Peca charges. The couple subsequently challenged their convictions before the Islamabad High Court.
The IHC later declared their applications seeking suspension of the sentences maintainable, while proceedings continued amid repeated adjournments.
The Supreme Court had previously directed the high court to decide the applications within two weeks. The delay subsequently prompted concerns from members of the legal community and civil society.
Lawyers seek implementation of SC direction
A day before Thursday’s hearing, representatives of the Islamabad Bar Council, Islamabad High Court Bar Association and Islamabad Bar Association had called for an early decision in the case.
Speaking at a joint press conference, lawyers said the couple’s constitutional right to a fair trial should be protected regardless of the allegations against them.
They also expressed concern over the delay in implementing the Supreme Court’s earlier direction and called for the sentence-suspension applications to be decided without further delay.
The case has attracted wider attention because of the convictions under Peca and the legal debate surrounding prosecution of lawyers and rights activists over social media activity.
With Thursday’s order, Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha have been granted bail and their sentences suspended until the Islamabad High Court delivers its final decision on the case.