ISLAMABAD: Separate petitions were filed in the Islamabad High Court on Thursday seeking an early hearing of pleas for the suspension of the sentence filed by Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Chatha in the controversial tweets case.

The petitions, moved through advocates Faisal Siddiqui, Zainab Janjua and Mohammad Jibran Nasir, stated that the Supreme Court of Pakistan on May 12 directed the high court to decide the suspension of sentence petitions at the earliest.

According to the petitions, the apex court had observed that the high court should decide the matter on a priority basis within two weeks.

The pleas contended that despite the passage of several months, the petitions for suspension of sentence filed on February 27, 2026 had not yet been fixed before any bench of the high court.

The petitioners submitted that Ms Mazari and Mr Chatha had remained incarcerated since January 24, 2026 and the continued non-listing of their petitions was contrary to the requirements of justice.

The applications requested the high court to fix the suspension of sentence petitions for hearing during the week commencing from May 18.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2026