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SC directs IHC to decide pleas of Mazari, Chattha within two weeks
🇵🇰 Pakistan /Crime & Justice

SC directs IHC to decide pleas of Mazari, Chattha within two weeks

From Dawn · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Supreme Court has directed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to decide within two weeks the pleas of Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha seeking suspension of their sentences in a social media posts case.
  • The couple's lawyer argued that legal requirements were not met during the trial, including the lack of cross-examination and proper recording of statements.
  • The apex court suggested either directing the IHC to decide the matter or giving instructions while keeping the application pending before the SC.

The Supreme Court's intervention in the case of Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha signals a critical juncture in their legal battle. By directing the Islamabad High Court to expedite the decision on their sentence suspension pleas within a fortnight, the apex court underscores the urgency and importance of this matter.

Which court should the accused go to if the high court denies relief or if the SC chooses not to go into the merits of the case.

— Faisal Siddiqi HArguing about the recourse available to the accused if the high court does not provide relief.

Faisal Siddiqi H, the counsel for the appellants, forcefully argued that the trial proceedings were flawed, citing the denial of cross-examination and the failure to record statements under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code. This assertion of procedural irregularities strikes at the heart of due process and raises serious questions about the fairness of the initial judgment.

Now there are two options: one is to direct the high court to decide the matter and the second is to give instructions to the high court and keep this application pending in the SC.

— Justice Shahid WaheedSuggesting potential courses of action for the Supreme Court.

From our perspective at Dawn, the legal intricacies and the potential implications for human rights lawyers are paramount. The SC's observation that it is aware of the appellants' circumstances, as detailed in their applications, suggests a deep consideration of the case's merits. The court's deliberation between directing the IHC and keeping the application pending highlights a strategic approach to ensure justice is served efficiently.

Not only the shadow of the Supreme Court, but also of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).

— Justice Naeem Akhtar AfghanCommenting on the SC's potential influence over the IHC's decision.

The dialogue between the judges and the counsel, particularly Justice Afghan's reminder about the Federal Constitutional Court, reflects the robust legal discourse within Pakistan. However, the lawyer's assertion of the SC as the 'highest court' in criminal matters, while emphasizing Imaan Mazari's standing as a "daughter of this country," brings a strong emotional and nationalistic undertone to the proceedings, reflecting how such cases resonate within the local context.

To me, the SC is the only superior court in the country.

— The couple's lawyerAsserting the Supreme Court's ultimate authority.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dawn in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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