ISLAMABAD: Proceedings in the controversial tweets case involving lawyer Iman Mazari and former bureaucrat Hadi Ali Chattha were postponed by the Islamabad High Court on Monday after members of the specially constituted prosecution team failed to appear before the court.
Justice Muhammad Azam Khan was hearing petitions seeking suspension of sentences awarded to Mazari and Chattha when the prosecution informed the court that its designated team members were unavailable.
According to the prosecutor, a three-member special prosecution team has been assigned to the case, but one member was traveling from Lahore while another was engaged in proceedings before another bench of the court. The prosecutor stated that the team was therefore unable to proceed with arguments.
During the hearing, Justice Azam Khan noted that he was present despite being nominated for mediation training and attending only for the purpose of hearing the case. The judge also reminded the prosecution that the matter was subject to directions issued by the Supreme Court and questioned whether the prosecution was aware of those orders.
Advocate State Ali Azad informed the court that the timeframe granted by the Supreme Court had already expired. Justice Azam Khan observed that the petitions had been fixed for hearing in light of the apex court’s directives.
Counsel Faisal Siddiqi requested that the case be taken up later in the day once the prosecutor became available after appearing before another bench. However, the court noted scheduling constraints, with Justice Azam Khan remarking that he had already missed his morning mediation training session.
The prosecution requested that the matter be adjourned either until Thursday or the following Monday. After consulting the parties regarding their availability, the court fixed the hearing for June 4.
During the proceedings, Faisal Siddiqi urged the court to direct the prosecution not to seek further adjournments. In response, Justice Azam Khan remarked that repeatedly raising the issue was not appropriate, while emphasizing that all parties remained bound by the Supreme Court’s orders.
The case has attracted significant legal and public attention, with the upcoming June 4 hearing expected to determine the next stage of proceedings regarding the suspension of the applicants’ sentences.
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