The defence requested the Islamabad High Court to suspend trial proceedings against Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha. A division bench consisting of Justice Inam Amin Minhas and Justice Sharukh Arjumand heard the appeals.
State Ali Azad argued that the Anti-Terrorism Court passed its order without jurisdiction because the accused were not physically present when they were indicted. The charges were not read out to the couple because they were not in court at the time of the indictment.
State Ali Azad stated, "The charge is the foundation of a trial. If that foundation is defective, the entire structure of the trial built on it would be unlawful." The case remained before Judge Abul Hasanat Muhammad Zulqarnain from 12 March 2025 until shortly before the current proceedings.
Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha were rearrested on 17 September 2026. Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain rejected a 30-day physical remand request and placed the couple on judicial remand.
The Supreme Court suspended the sentences and granted bail to Imaan and Hadi in a separate case involving social-media posts. On 27 September 2026, the court issued a contempt notice to the Adiala jail superintendent.
The Anti-Terrorism Court concluded the contempt proceedings against the jail authorities on 29 September 2026. The Anti-Terrorism Court framed charges against the couple on 7 October 2026 regarding the alleged incitement and violation of a designated route during an international cricket team's arrival.
