That is 0 articles you have read today.
The Aporia is free and carries no advertising, so readers are the only
thing paying for it. If you are getting this much out of it, a small
donation is what keeps it independent.
Daily limit reached
You have read 0 articles today.
That is more than the 15 a day The Aporia gives away,
and well past what it can carry on nothing. Your allowance resets at
midnight.
There is no advertising here and nothing about you is sold, so readers
are the only thing paying for it. If the site is worth this much of
your day, it is worth a few dollars.
Everything else stays open: the
maps, the
directory and
search do
not count against this, and neither does re-opening something you have
already read today.
Veteran journalists and civil society members in Pakistan have expressed deep concern over delays in hearing appeals by human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, whose sentences are pending appeal. Despite the Supreme Court’s directive on May 12, 2026, ordering a decision within two weeks, the matter remains unresolved with no progress made since then. The group includes over twenty well-known figures who argue that these delays undermine constitutional rights related to liberty and fair trial as outlined in Articles 4, 9, and 10-A of Pakistan’s Constitution. They urge the Supreme Court to ensure timely justice by hearing the suspension applications at the next scheduled date on September 17th, 2026.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In ISLAMABAD, veteran journalists and civil society members have expressed deep concern over delays in deciding the applications filed by human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her spouse Hadi Ali Chattha. These individuals are seeking suspension of their sentences pending appeal, but despite a Supreme Court directive on May 12, 2026, ordering the Islamabad High Court to make a decision within two weeks, no resolution has been reached. The repeated delays have raised significant concerns about access to timely and effective judicial remedies in Pakistan.
The concerned individuals include prominent figures such as Hussain Naqi, Farhatullah Babar, Zahid Hussain, Mustansar Javaid, Anwar Iqbal, Ali Ahmad Khan, Mazhar Abbas, Dr Nazir Mahmood, Dr Touseef Ahmed Khan, Nasir Zaidi, Asmatullah Niazi, Munizae Jahangir, Mahnaz Rahman, Sohail Sangi, Nasir Malick, Adnan Rehmat, Iqbal Khattak, G.N. Mughal, Waris Raza, Habib Khan Ghori, Fouzia Shahid, Lala, Ayub Jan Sarhandi, Shafiq Awan, Abdul Sattar, Mohammed Riaz, Ayub Malik, Fauzia Rana, and Jamil Ahmed.
Written for “Imaan Hadi Hearing Delayed” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
-
Veteran journalists and members of civil society have expressed profound concern over the continued delay in deciding the applications filed by human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her spouse, Hadi Ali Chattha, seeking suspension of their sentences pending appeal.
left frames delays as a serious issue undermining justice
-
The repeated adjournments, amid the continued incarceration of the two prominent rights defenders, have raised serious concerns about the accessibility of timely and effective judicial remedies in the country.
left criticizes delays as a barrier to justice
-
prolonged procedural delays can raise serious questions regarding fundamental constitutional guarantees. The ongoing delay, they said, undermines protections relating to liberty, due process and fair trial as enshrined in Articles 4, 9 and 10-A of the Constitution.
left links delays with violations of constitutional rights
-
The signatories are particularly concerned about the wider chilling effect that prolonged legal proceedings and incarceration pending appeal may have on the legal fraternity and independent human rights defenders.
left warns of broader negative impacts on civil society
Leaning score -0.65 for article 10054 (high confidence, 4 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-15
Veteran journalists and members of civil society have expressed profound concern over the continued delay in deciding the applications filed by human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her spouse, Hadi Ali Chattha, seeking suspension of their sentences pending appeal.
asserted
journalists → express → appeal
Despite the Supreme Court’s explicit direction of May 12, 2026, ordering the Islamabad High Court to decide the matter within two weeks, the applications remain unresolved.
uncertain
applications → order → weeks
The repeated adjournments, amid the continued incarceration of the two prominent rights defenders, have raised serious concerns about the accessibility of timely and effective judicial remedies in the country.
asserted
adjournments → repeat → country
The veteran journalists and civil society members who have expressed concern over the delays include Hussain Naqi, Farhatullah Babar, Zahid Hussain, Mustansar Javaid, Anwar Iqbal, Ali Ahmad Khan, Mazhar Abbas, Dr Nazir Mahmood, Dr Touseef Ahmed Khan, Nasir Zaidi, Asmatullah Niazi, Munizae Jahangir, Mahnaz Rahman, Sohail Sangi, Nasir Malick, Adnan Rehmat, Iqbal Khattak, G.N. Mughal, Waris Raza, Habib Khan Ghori, Fouzia Shahid, Lala, Ayub Jan Sarhandi, Shafiq Awan, Abdul Sattar, Mohammed Riaz, Ayub Malik, Fauzia Rana and Jamil Ahmed.
asserted
who → express → Khattak
While the substantive merits of any legal application remain strictly within the purview of the courts, prolonged procedural delays can raise serious questions regarding fundamental constitutional guarantees.
asserted
delays → remain → guarantees
The ongoing delay, they said, undermines protections relating to liberty, due process and fair trial as enshrined in Articles 4, 9 and 10-A of the Constitution.
asserted
they → say → Constitution
The signatories are particularly concerned about the wider chilling effect that prolonged legal proceedings and incarceration pending appeal may have on the legal fraternity and independent human rights defenders.
uncertain
proceedings → chill → fraternity
The state and the administration of justice must ensure that individuals engaged in lawful, rights-based advocacy are not subjected to judicial processes that effectively become punitive in themselves, they said.
asserted
they → ensure → themselves
The journalists and civil society members emphasised that the rule of law is strengthened not merely by the formal existence of legal remedies, but by ensuring that such remedies remain accessible, timely and effective.
asserted
remedies → emphasise → remedies
With the next hearing scheduled for September 17, they urged the Supreme Court to ensure that the suspension applications are heard and decided without further delay, in order to uphold the sanctity of constitutional guarantees and the principle of timely justice.
asserted
applications → schedule → justice
The Aporia
