SC Allows Imaan Mazari, Hadi Chatha’s Sentence-Suspension Pleas to Be Decided by IHC
ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 20th Aug, 2026) The Supreme Court on Thursday directed that the pleas seeking suspension of sentences of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chatha be decided. The court observed that the petitions could be either accepted or dismissed, but a decision must be made.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan heard the pleas. The court adjourned further proceedings until September 17, with Justice Afghan noting that by the next hearing, either the court would decide the matter or the petitioners would withdraw their cases.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will formally resume work from September 6.
Additional Attorney General contended that the pleas seeking suspension of the sentences were not maintainable. Advocate Faisal Siddiqui told the court that the Supreme Court had directed the IHC to decide the applications for suspension of sentence within two weeks, but the order had not been implemented.
The Additional Attorney General argued that the IHC had its own system under which cases were fixed for hearing. Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan remarked that the Supreme Court should not be asked to give an opinion on the IHC’s system.
Faisal Siddiqui said the cases had suddenly been fixed before the IHC for September 8, adding that whenever the Supreme Court was about to decide the matter, the cases were listed before the high court. He expressed concern that the case might disappear from the system.
Justice Afghan remarked, “The case may disappear from the system, but we will not.” He assured the counsel that the judges were present and would continue to be there in the future.
Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim observed that the court had only directed that a decision be made on the sentence-suspension pleas, adding that the petitions could also be dismissed.
The Supreme Court subsequently adjourned further hearing until September 17. Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan remarked that at the next hearing, “either we will be deciding the case, or the petitioners will be withdrawing it.”
