The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday adjourned the hearing of sentence suspension petitions filed by human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha in the controversial social media posts case, despite a Supreme Court directive that had set a strict timeline for deciding the matter.

The Supreme Court had issued its order on May 12, instructing the IHC to resolve the suspension of sentence applications within two weeks, but the deadline of May 26 was not met.

During the hearing, Justice Muhammad Azam Khan took up the petitions but was unable to proceed with a decision due to the absence of two members of the special prosecution team.The prosecution informed the court that one member was travelling from Lahore while another was engaged in proceedings before the IHC Chief Justice.The judge noted that he was present for the hearing despite being scheduled for mediation training earlier in the day.Counsel for the petitioners argued that the Supreme Court’s deadline had already expired and urged the court to act in accordance with its directive.The court observed that the petitions were filed following the Supreme Court’s instructions, which required timely adjudication.The prosecution requested an adjournment, which the court accepted after discussion, and the next hearing was scheduled for June 4.

The case relates to the arrest and conviction of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, who have been in custody since January following allegations linked to protests outside the IHC and social media activity.

They were later sentenced by a sessions court to 17 years in prison under various provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), including charges related to cyber terrorism, glorification of offences, and dissemination of false information.The matter continues to draw attention from legal circles and rights groups concerned with due process and fair trial standards.