Islamabad, December 16, 2025: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed the trial court hearing the controversial social media posts case against lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha to re-record the statements of prosecution witnesses within three days.
The directive was issued by Justice Mohammed Azam Khan while hearing a petition filed by Mazari challenging a trial court order dated November 19. Chattha appeared in person before the court, while Mazari was represented by her counsel.
“Merit is not being considered. We are directing the trial court to re-record the witnesses’ testimonies within three days. The Supreme Court has directed us to decide the matter at the earliest,” Justice Azam Khan observed during the hearing.
Mazari’s counsel, Riasat Ali, told the court that the Supreme Court had instructed that both parties must be heard before any decision was made. However, the assistant attorney general argued that all relevant records were already before the court and that the testimonies recorded so far were legally valid.
“All records are before the court. A verdict can be passed on their basis,” the law officer submitted.
Justice Azam Khan raised questions regarding trial procedure and legal representation, asking whether Mazari or her pleader had been present during the recording of the testimonies. The court also sought clarity on how much time would be required to re-record the statements.
Advocate Riasat Ali requested additional time, saying that senior counsel Faisal Siddiqui would argue the case on merits. The court subsequently adjourned the hearing until Wednesday and directed Faisal Siddiqui to appear.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court last week ordered the suspension of the trial proceedings against Mazari and Chattha in the controversial tweets case. A three-member bench comprising Justice Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim accepted Mazari’s plea against an earlier IHC verdict that had dismissed her request to halt the trial before the additional sessions judge.
In its order, the apex court ruled that the trial would remain stayed until the IHC decides the matter.
Mazari and Chattha were booked in a case registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under Sections 9, 10, 11 and 26 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016, and were indicted on October 30.
