Mazari and Chattha have challenged the January 24 conviction verdict before the high court
Lawyer and rights activist Imaan Mazari and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court on Saturday issued a written order in the controversial tweets case, serving notices on appeals filed against the convictions of rights activist and lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha.
The court also issued notices on applications seeking suspension of their sentences.
Justice Muhammad Asif released a two-page written order after the hearing.
According to the order, Mazari and Chattha have challenged the January 24 conviction verdict before the high court. Counsel for the petitioners argued that the decision was not legally sound and should be declared void.
Read: Imaan Mazari, husband jailed in PECA case
On January 24, a trial court in Islamabad handed down a combined 17-year prison sentence to both Mazari and Chattha, convicting them on multiple charges linked to controversial social media posts that the prosecution argued amounted to an anti-state narrative under cybercrime laws.
During today’s hearing, the court directed the registrar’s office to prepare the paper books of the case. It was ordered that the matter be fixed for hearing after the paper books are compiled.
The court did not specify a date for the early hearing of the sentence suspension applications. Counsel for the petitioners had requested that the pleas for suspension of sentence and release on bail be fixed for early hearing.
Earlier, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad granted bail to both in a case involving a confrontation with the police.
Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain ruled in favour of the accused, granting post-arrest bail on sureties of Rs10,000 each.
Read more: Imaan Mazari, Hadi Ali Chattha granted bail by ATC in police scuffle case
The case, registered at the Secretariat Police Station, involves accusations of a police altercation and public protest.
Representing the accused, state lawyer Ali Azad claimed the charges were unfounded, with the FIR being filed based on fabricated and non-existent events.
After hearing arguments from both parties, the court issued a favourable ruling for the accused.
