Supreme Court orders halt to trial of Imaan Mazari, husband

The Supreme Court has ordered a halt to the trial of rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha in the controversial social media post Chattha by a lower court, reported 24NewsDH TV channel.

Announcing the verdict on Thursday, the apex court granted the stay until the decision by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

On December 4, Imaan Mazari and her husband were facing trail before the additional sessions judge and Peca (Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016) special judge in the controversial tweets case.

On December 1, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) denied the couple interim relief of staying the trial. They appealed the IHC order before the Supreme Court through their counsel, Faisal Siddiqi.

In their subsequent application from December 4, the petitioners pleaded that the criminal trial against them was at its concluding stage and therefore, extreme urgency in the matter was required. The application also pleaded that the petitioners filed a criminal revision before the IHC to question the trial proceedings in view of violations of due process as prescribed under CrPC, particularly the recording of evidence in the absence of the petitioners.

Headed by Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, a three-judge SC bench also consisting of Justices Salahuddin Panwhar and Ishtiaq Ibrahim heard the plea.

Justice Kakar expressed the hope that the IHC will decide the couple’s appeal as soon as possible. In the meanwhile, the trial court should not take forward the proceedings, the judge added.

Turning to the couple, Justice Kakar remarked Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha’s behaviour during the trial was not that good. “They both are lawyers but continued to protest during the trial,” he added.
The apex court judge said that they would not let anyone degrade a subordinate judge. “Nor the court would allow the government to punish anyone it likes,” he maintained.

Reporter Amanat Gishkori