IHC seeks certified SC copy in Imaan case

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ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday raised an objection to the miscellaneous applications seeking early hearing of the sentence suspension pleas of lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha in the controversial tweets case.

IHC's Justice Muhammad Azam Khan heard the case.

Senior lawyer Faisal Siddiqi appeared on behalf of Imaan and Chattha. Imaan's mother, Dr Shireen Mazari, Islamabad District Bar President Naeem Gujjar, a former president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and members of civil society were also present in the courtroom.

Siddiqi informed the court that miscellaneous applications had been filed seeking early fixation of the sentence suspension pleas. He stated that the Supreme Court had already directed the IHC to hear the matter at the earliest and decide it within two weeks.

Justice Khan observed that the court did not have the Supreme Court order before it and asked the counsel to read the order. The lawyer responded that a copy of the Supreme Court order had been attached with the miscellaneous application.

The judge remarked that the order specifically stated that the matter was to be decided within two weeks after receipt of the certified copy, adding that the court had not yet received the authenticated order.

"How could the miscellaneous application be filed if the authenticated order of the Supreme Court was not available?" he questioned. He also asked the counsel if he possessed the certified copy.

Siddiqi replied in the affirmative and informed the court that he was providing the copy to the bench as well.