By Asif Naveed
ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Islamabad High Court on Friday adjourned the hearing of applications seeking suspension of sentences filed by lawyer and rights activist Imaan Mazari and activist Hadi Ali Chattha in the controversial tweets case.
Justice Muhammad Asif heard the matter following a request by the state to transfer the appeal to another bench. The assistant attorney general argued that a similar case had previously been heard by Justice Azam Khan, suggesting that the current appeal should also be placed before the same bench to ensure consistency.
Counsel for the appellants, Advocate Riasat Ali Azad, opposed the move, stating that no related case was pending before any other court. He maintained that the appeal had remained before Justice Muhammad Asif since the beginning and questioned the timing of the government’s objection. Expressing confidence in the bench, he requested an early hearing before Eid to provide relief to his clients.
Justice Asif directed the state to clarify which case was pending before Justice Azam Khan. Court observers noted that although other matters involving the accused might be pending elsewhere, the present appeal had consistently been heard by the same bench.
Responding to the request for an early date, the judge remarked, “Let’s see,” before rising for chambers. The state counsel informed the court it had no objection to fixing an early hearing. However, the court adjourned proceedings without immediately scheduling the suspension applications.
Bail Granted in Two Separate Cases
In a separate development, Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Abul Hasanat Muhammad Zulqarnain granted bail to Ms Mazari and Mr Chattha in two other cases.
The bail was approved against surety bonds of Rs5,000 each in cases related to an alleged scuffle outside the Islamabad High Court and a protest outside the National Press Club.
An affidavit submitted by the complainant and Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Syed Wajid Ali Gillani was made part of the record in the case concerning the alleged altercation outside the high court.
However, in the controversial tweets case — in which both activists have been convicted — bail has not yet been granted. Their release now depends on the outcome of the pending suspension of sentence applications before the high court.
