Veteran journalists and civil society members in Pakistan have voiced alarm over the prolonged delay by the Islamabad High Court in deciding applications filed by imprisoned human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab-Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha, seeking suspension of their sentences. The concern was reported on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, even as the couple's next hearing is scheduled for 17 September.

The Court's Repeated Inaction

Pakistan's Supreme Court had on 12 May directed the Islamabad High Court to decide the suspension applications within two weeks. That deadline has long elapsed without a ruling, prompting a joint statement from a broad coalition of civil society voices. The signatories include prominent journalists and rights advocates such as Hussain Naqi, Farhatullah Babar, Zahid Hussain, Munizae Jahangir, Mazhar Abbas, and Iqbal Khattak, among nearly three dozen others.

The group warned that the court's inaction undermines constitutional protections enshrined in Articles 4, 9, and 10-A of the Pakistan Constitution, which cover liberty, due process, and the right to a fair trial. They expressed particular concern about the chilling effect that prolonged pre-appeal incarceration could have on the legal fraternity and human rights defenders more broadly.

The Case Against Imaan and Hadi

Imaan Zainab-Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were convicted by a sessions court in Islamabad earlier this year and sentenced to a combined 17 years in prison. Each was also fined 36 million Pakistani rupees. The charges, according to reports, are linked to social media posts — a framing that critics argue represents a pattern of using digital-speech laws to silence dissent.

This comes amid a wider global conversation about the criminalisation of online expression, with Pakistan's treatment of activists and journalists drawing repeated scrutiny from international rights bodies.

Imaan's Deteriorating Health in Adiala Jail

The urgency of the civil society statement is compounded by serious health concerns. On 25 August, the Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRC-Pakistan) expressed grave concern over the deteriorating health of Imaan Zainab-Mazari, who is detained at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, describing the prison's medical facilities as 'alarming.'

According to the family, Imaan had been battling a chest infection, with a blood test reportedly revealing a high white blood cell count indicating active infection. Despite the clinical need, jail authorities had not yet conducted a chest X-ray to rule out potentially serious conditions, including tuberculosis, the family said. The HRC-Pakistan demanded an immediate X-ray and comprehensive medical assessment, and called for her transfer to a hospital if required.

The rights body also flagged that women in Adiala Jail diagnosed with infectious diseases are not isolated from other inmates or children — a situation it described as compounding the health risk. 'Imprisonment does not strip a person of their right to health,' the HRC-Pakistan said in its statement, adding that 'the protection of the life, health, and dignity of every person in custody is the direct responsibility of the state.'

Demands Going Into the September 17 Hearing

With the next hearing set for 17 September, the coalition of journalists and civil society members has formally requested the Supreme Court to ensure that the suspension applications are heard and decided without further postponement. Beyond the individual case, they called on authorities to guarantee all women prisoners access to specialist medical care, dental services, essential medicines, and diagnostic facilities.

The case has drawn comparisons to other instances in Pakistan where civil and legal activists have faced protracted judicial delays, reinforcing concerns that the courts' pace of justice may itself become an instrument of punishment. Observers will be watching closely whether the 17 September hearing produces a substantive ruling or another adjournment.