ISLAMABAD (APP):The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Federation and other respondents on a petition seeking suspension of the sentences awarded to Iman Mazari and Barrister Hadi, and adjourned further hearing until July 21. During the proceedings, the Court observed that the Islamabad High Court should fix the case for hearing and decide the application for suspension of sentence.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and comprising Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, heard the matter. Counsel for Iman Mazari, Faisal Siddiqi, submitted that the Supreme Court had earlier directed the Islamabad High Court to decide the sentence suspension application within two weeks, but the order had not been complied with. He informed the bench that the High Court had initially fixed the matter for May 20 and later adjourned it to June 4. However, the cause list for that day was cancelled, and the case had not been fixed for hearing since then.
The counsel further stated that an application seeking an early hearing had also been filed but was returned without being entertained. “Our only request is that the High Court fix the case and decide it, even if the decision goes against us.
The matter should at least be heard,” Siddiqi argued. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar observed that the Supreme Court generally does not interfere even in the interim orders of the High Court, whereas in the present case, the High Court had not yet even issued notices to the prosecution. Accepting the request made by the petitioner’s counsel, the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing until July 21 and issued notices to the Additional Attorney General as well as the other parties.
Follow the PNI Facebook page for the latest news and updates.
