The Islamabad High Court (IHC) delivered a significant directive on Tuesday, ordering the trial court to re-record all witness statements within a tight three-day timeframe in the high-profile controversial social media posts case involving lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha.
The instruction came from Justice Mohammed Azam Khan, who was presiding over a hearing on a petition filed by Mazari challenging a November 19 order from the lower court. Chattha appeared in person for the proceedings, while Mazari was represented by her legal counsel.
“Merit is not being considered,” Justice Azam Khan remarked during the session. “We are directing the trial court to re-record the witnesses’ testimonies within three days as Supreme Court has directed us to decide the matter at the earliest.”
The government’s position, articulated by the assistant attorney general, maintained that all records and testimonies gathered so far are legally valid and sufficient for a verdict. Conversely, defence counsel Riasat Ali informed the judiciary that the Supreme Court had instructed that both parties be heard before a decision is reached.
During the proceedings, Advocate Riasat requested additional time, stating that arguments on merit would be presented by Faisal Siddiqui. The high court adjourned the case until Wednesday, instructing Mr. Siddiqui to appear for the arguments.
This development follows a recent order from the Supreme Court that halted the trial of Mazari and Chattha. A three-member bench had accepted Mazari’s plea against an earlier IHC verdict, stipulating that the trial remain paused until the high court issues its new decision.
Mazari and Chattha were booked by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and were indicted on October 30. The charges fall under Sections 9, 10, 11, and 26 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016.