ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Friday adjourned the hearing of applications seeking suspension of sentence filed by lawyer and rights activists Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha in the controversial tweets case, as the defence pressed for an early date before Eid.
Justice Muhammad Asif took up the matter amid a request from the state to transfer the appeal to another bench.
During the proceedings, the assistant attorney general submitted that a case of similar nature had earlier been heard by Justice Azam Khan and requested that the present appeal also be placed before his court.
He argued that it would be appropriate for the same bench to hear related matters.
Rights activists granted bail by anti-terrorism court in two other cases
However, the counsel for the appellants, Advocate Riasat Ali Azad, opposed the request, maintaining that no such case was pending before any other court of the country.
He pointed out that the present appeal had been heard by Justice Muhammad Asif since its inception and questioned how the government could raise objections to the bench at this stage.
Expressing full confidence in the court, Mr Azad urged the judge to fix the matter for hearing before Eid, saying an early date would bring relief to his clients.
Justice Asif asked the state to clarify which case was pending before Justice Azam Khan. Observers present in the courtroom noted that while other cases involving the accused might be pending elsewhere, the instant appeal had consistently remained before the same bench.
The judge later rose and proceeded to his chambers after remarking, “Let’s see,” in response to the request for an early date. The state counsel informed the court that it had no objection if a date was fixed. Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned without immediate scheduling of the suspension pleas.
Bail granted
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 allowed 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.
In the case concerning the alleged altercation outside the high court, an affidavit submitted by the complainant and Islamabad High Court Bar Association president Syed Wajid Ali Gillani was made part of the record.
However, in the controversial tweets case — in which both rights activists have been convicted — bail has yet to be granted. Owing to the absence of relief in that matter, their release remains subject to the outcome of the pending suspension of sentence applications before the high court.
