Islamabad gets foolproof security for Eid Milad

The Islamabad High Court on Friday reserved its decision on whether petitions seeking the suspension of prison sentences awarded to lawyers and human rights activists Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha can proceed. The petitions relate to the couple’s convictions in a case involving alleged controversial social media posts under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The hearing was conducted by Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, who considered preliminary arguments from both the prosecution and the defence before reserving his ruling on the maintainability of the petitions. During the proceedings, lawyers representing the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) argued that the requests for suspension of sentence had been filed too early. They maintained that the court should first decide the prosecution’s objection challenging the admissibility of the petitions before considering any request for relief. The prosecution submitted that hearing the suspension petitions before deciding its objection would make its legal challenge ineffective. It therefore requested the court to first determine whether the petitions were legally maintainable. Counsel for Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha opposed the objection and said he was ready to argue the prosecution’s application immediately. He suggested that both the objection and the suspension requests should be heard together to avoid unnecessary delays in the proceedings. The judge advised the defence to fully prepare its arguments, observing that doing so would better protect the legal rights of the convicted lawyers. However, the defence maintained that it was prepared to proceed without delay and formally waived any request for additional preparation time. After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Azam Khan stated that the court would first determine whether the petitions seeking suspension of sentence were legally maintainable. Only after resolving that issue would the court consider the merits of the requests for suspension of the sentences. At the end of the hearing, the Islamabad High Court reserved its decision on the prosecution’s objection. The ruling will determine whether the petitions can move forward for further consideration. Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha were convicted by a sessions court earlier this year and received a combined sentence of 17 years’ imprisonment on multiple charges under PECA

Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has strongly opposed calls to abolish the reserved legislative seats for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan, saying the voting rights of displaced Kashmiris are protected by constitutional and democratic principles and must not be undermined. His remarks came after reports that a banned Action Committee had demanded the abolition of seats reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) legislative framework. The proposal has sparked debate and criticism from political and social circles on both sides of the Line of Control. In a statement, Mirwaiz said millions of Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan have a legitimate constitutional and democratic right to participate in the electoral process, adding that these rights cannot be ignored or sacrificed. “The voting rights of Kashmiri refugees are an integral part of their constitutional and democratic rights,” he said, stressing that displaced Kashmiris deserve equal respect, representation and protection. Mirwaiz argued that the rights of refugees are inseparable from the collective rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He maintained that any political movement claiming to represent Kashmiris must ensure equal representation for residents of every region and community without discrimination. He warned that protecting the interests of one group should never come at the cost of another group’s constitutional rights. According to the Hurriyat leader, justice, equality and mutual respect must remain the guiding principles in resolving issues affecting the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Calling for dialogue, Mirwaiz urged all stakeholders to engage in consultations and meaningful discussions to find a balanced and widely acceptable solution. He said consensus-based decision-making was essential to preserving unity and protecting the democratic rights of all Kashmiris. The statement also criticized attempts to alter the existing representation of Kashmiri refugees, arguing that such moves risk deepening divisions rather than strengthening democratic participation. The controversy over refugee seats has emerged during a politically sensitive period in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with electoral issues drawing increased public attention. While supporters of the proposal argue that reforms are needed, opponents insist that any changes affecting refugee representation must respect constitutional guarantees and the political rights of displaced Kashmiris. Mirwaiz’s intervention adds a prominent voice to the debate, highlighting the need for dialogue and consensus rather than unilateral decisions on issues involving the constitutional and democratic rights of Kashmiri refugees.