“Let the System Be Fully Exposed,” Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has expressed serious displeasure over the delay by the Islamabad High Court in hearing the sentence-suspension applications filed by human rights lawyers Iman Zainab Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chatha.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim heard the case.
During the hearing, petitioners’ counsel Faisal Siddiqui informed the court that the Supreme Court had directed the Islamabad High Court to decide the applications seeking suspension of the sentences within two weeks. However, he said, the order had not been implemented.
Faisal Siddiqui further submitted that whenever the Supreme Court was about to hear or decide the matter, the case was suddenly fixed for hearing before the Islamabad High Court. He said the case had now been scheduled for September 8.
The Additional Attorney General argued that the Islamabad High Court had its own established system under which cases were fixed for hearing.
Responding to the argument, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan remarked, “It would be better not to seek our opinion about the Islamabad High Court’s system.”
Addressing Faisal Siddiqui, the judge said, “Mr Faisal Siddiqui, let the system be fully exposed.”
The counsel expressed concern that the Islamabad High Court’s cause list had not yet been issued and said there was a possibility that the case could disappear through the system.
بریکنگ نیوز: ایمان مزاری اور ہادی علی چٹھہ کیس میں سپریم کورٹ کی اسلام آباد ہائیکورٹ سے متعلق اہم ترین اور غیرمعمولی آبزرویشنز !!!
سپریم کورٹ نے اسلام آباد ہائیکورٹ کو دو ہفتے میں سزا معطلی درخواستوں پر فیصلہ کرنے کا حکم دیا تھا لیکن سپریم کورٹ کے حکم پر عملدرآمد نہیں کیا گیا،… pic.twitter.com/yEJWs8hiF6
— Ehtsham Kiani (@ehtshamkiani) August 20, 2026
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan responded, “The case may disappear from the system, but we are here. God willing, we will continue to be here in the future as well. Do not worry.”
Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim clarified that the Supreme Court had only directed the Islamabad High Court to decide the applications in accordance with the law, adding that the High Court could also dismiss the applications if it found them without merit.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan stated, “At the next hearing, either we will be deciding the case ourselves or the petitioners will be withdrawing their case.”
The Supreme Court adjourned further proceedings until September 17.
