Social media posts case: SC issues notices as Imaan Mazari, Hadi Chattha seek suspension of convictions

WEB DESK: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday issued notices to the additional attorney general and other respondents on petitions filed by lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha seeking suspension of their convictions in the ‘controversial tweets’ case, and adjourned the hearing until July 21.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and comprising Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, heard the matter. The bench initially proposed fixing the matter for hearing next week, but on Siddiqi’s request agreed to adjourn the proceedings until July 21 after issuing notices to the respondents.

During the proceedings, counsel Faisal Siddiqi argued that the SC had earlier directed the high court to decide the applications for suspension of sentence within two weeks while keeping the case pending before itself.

He told the bench that although the high court fixed the matter for hearing on May 20 and later adjourned it to June 4, the June 4 cause list was cancelled and the case has not been relisted since. Siddiqi said an urgent application seeking an early hearing had also been returned without the case being fixed.

Justice Mazhar observed that the SC generally does not interfere with interim orders passed by a high court, adding that the prosecution had not yet even been issued notices by the high court.

Siddiqi urged the apex court to direct the high court to fix the case and decide the applications, saying the petitioners should not be subjected to unnecessary delay. “Even if the decision goes against us, at least hear the case,” he argued, adding that he had never seen a situation like this before.

The case

The case stems from a complaint filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in August 2025 with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). Imaan Mazari is accused of sharing social media posts allegedly linked to hostile organisations, while her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, is accused of reposting some of the content. Prosecutors allege the posts criticised Pakistan’s security forces over enforced disappearances cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and sought to portray the state as supporting terrorism. The couple were indicted in October 2025.

Their legal troubles intensified after a trial court cancelled their bail over repeated non-appearances, issued arrest warrants and revoked their right to cross-examine witnesses, directing authorities to produce them before the court within 24 hours. On the same day, the Islamabad High Court granted the couple one-day protective bail, restraining authorities from arresting them until the following day to allow them to pursue further legal remedies. However, they were later arrested near Serena Chowk in Islamabad on January 23 while on their way to the district courts.