The top court granted bail to Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha against Rs200,000 surety bonds pending the Islamabad High Court’s final decision.
Web Desk: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday suspended the sentences of lawyer and rights activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, in a case concerning controversial social media posts.
A two-member Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim heard the couple’s appeals against the Islamabad High Court’s refusal to suspend their sentences.
The top court also granted bail to Mazari and Chattha against surety bonds of Rs200,000 each, with their release subject to the final decision of the Islamabad High Court.
Couple sentenced to 17 years each
An Islamabad district and sessions court sentenced Mazari and Chattha to a total of 17 years in prison each in January 2026 under different provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
The case was registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under Sections 9, 10, 11 and 26 of PECA.
According to the FIR, the couple was accused of attempting to incite divisions on linguistic grounds through social media posts. These allegations remain allegations underlying the criminal proceedings.
Bail granted pending IHC decision
The Supreme Court’s latest order means the couple will remain on bail while their case continues before the Islamabad High Court.
The IHC had been considering their petitions seeking suspension of their sentences. A hearing scheduled earlier this month was adjourned after the court was informed that the NCCIA prosecutor was unavailable. The matter was subsequently fixed for September 23.
The Supreme Court had previously directed the IHC to decide the couple’s sentence-suspension pleas.
Supreme Court stresses court decorum
During Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan remarked that both petitioners are lawyers and said the court was upholding their dignity.
The judge also directed the petitioners to maintain the decorum of the court, noting that lawyers appearing before the court have professional responsibilities.
The latest Supreme Court order does not finally determine the couple’s appeals or overturn their convictions. The Islamabad High Court’s proceedings on the underlying case remain pending.
Mazari and Chattha have been granted bail while the Islamabad High Court considers their challenges to the sentences.
The next significant development is expected from the IHC, where the sentence-suspension proceedings remain pending. The Supreme Court’s latest decision allows the couple to remain on bail until the relevant proceedings are decided.
