ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday issued notices on applications seeking an early hearing of sentence suspension pleas filed by human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chatha in a social media posts case.

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan heard the applications as the couple’s counsel, Faisal Siddiqi, requested the court to fix the matter for Monday, May 25. The court said the other side should also be heard before a date is fixed.

Justice Khan observed that Monday would be the last working day before Eidul Azha and said the matter could instead be taken up on the first working day after Eid. The petitioners’ counsel later agreed to have the case fixed after Eid.

Former Islamabad High Court Bar Association president Riasat Ali Azad also requested an early hearing, saying both petitioners were members of the legal fraternity. The court said it would review Monday’s cause list before making a decision.

The hearing was later adjourned.

The Supreme Court had earlier directed the IHC on May 12 to decide within two weeks the couple’s pleas seeking suspension of their sentence.

A day earlier, Justice Khan had raised objections over the non-submission of certified copies of the Supreme Court order and directed the counsel to submit the certified order through the court office under the prescribed procedure.

In January, Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chatha were sentenced to 17 years in prison in the social media posts case under different provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016.

The case originated from a complaint filed on August 12, 2025, by an assistant director of the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency before the Cybercrime Reporting Centre of the FIA in Islamabad.

According to the complaint, Imaan was accused of disseminating narratives allegedly linked to hostile and proscribed groups, while Hadi was implicated for reposting some of her posts.