The Supreme Court on Thursday directed that the pleas seeking suspension of sentences of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chatha be decided, observing that the petitions could either be accepted or dismissed, but a decision must be made.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan heard the pleas. The court adjourned further proceedings until September 17, with Justice Afghan observing that by the next hearing, either the court would be deciding the matter or the petitioners would be withdrawing their cases.
The IHC, after summer break, would formally resume work from September 6.
The Additional Attorney General contended that the pleas seeking suspension of the sentences were not maintainable.
Advocate Faisal Siddiqui told the court that the Supreme Court had directed the IHC to decide the applications for suspension of sentence within two weeks, but the order had not been implemented.
The Additional Attorney General said the IHC had its own system under which cases were fixed for hearing.
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan remarked that the Supreme Court should not be asked to give an opinion on the IHC’s system.
Faisal Siddiqui said the cases had suddenly been fixed before the IHC for September 8, adding that whenever the Supreme Court was about to decide the matter, the cases were listed before the high court.
The counsel said the cause list had not yet been issued and expressed concern that the case might disappear from the system.
Justice Afghan remarked, “The case may disappear from the system, but we will not.” He added that the counsel should not worry as the judges were present and, God willing, would continue to be there in the future.
Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim observed that the court had only directed that a decision be made on the sentence-suspension pleas, adding that the petitions could also be dismissed.
The Supreme Court subsequently adjourned further hearing until September 17.
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan remarked that at the next hearing, “either we will be deciding the case, or the petitioners will be withdrawing it.”
