Court says legal procedure must be followed before seeking redress for Adiala jail meeting
Dr. Shireen Mazari. PHOTO: ZAFAR ASLAM
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday ordered that a petition filed by former federal minister Shireen Mazari seeking denial of a jail meeting with her daughter Imaan Mazari and son-in-law Hadi Ali Chattha be first submitted to the Adiala Jail Superintendent.
The petition concerns the alleged refusal of prison authorities to allow Mazari to meet his daughter and son-in-law, who are currently in custody at Adiala Jail.
Human rights defender Imaan Mazari and her husband Chattha were convicted on January 24 in Islamabad in a case involving alleged posts and reruns on X that investigators described as “anti-state.” The case was registered in August 2025 by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency under the Electronic Crime Prevention Act, 2016. Authorities alleged that the content was aimed at undermining state institutions and aligning with proscribed organizations or individuals.
The convictions were widely condemned by members of the legal community, politicians and civil society.
Mazari filed the petition with the IHC on Tuesday, seeking enforcement of what she claimed was her legal right to reunite with her daughter and son-in-law under prison laws. “I am a mother. I want to meet my daughter and my son-in-law, but you are preventing me from doing so,” she told the court.
Read: Shireen Mazari moves IHC seeking right to reunite with daughter and son-in-law in Adiala jail
Earlier on Tuesday, Mazari had attempted to visit his daughter in Adiala jail, but was not allowed to meet her.
The matter was heard by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir. Mazari appeared in court along with his lawyer, Kamran Murtaza, and other lawyers.
During the hearing, the court asked whether a formal application had been made to the jail director. Addressing Mazari, Justice Tahir said the law required that such a request be made through the relevant administrative authority before approaching the court.
“You must first submit an application and then come to us,” the judge observed, adding that the procedure established by law must be followed.
The court advised Mazari to approach chief commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa or Adiala jail superintendent Sajid Baig. Justice Tahir said if the authorities rejected the application, the court could be approached for redress.
Mazari’s lawyer asked the court to grant the jail superintendent a day or two to consider the request.
The court later dismissed the petition and directed that it be referred to the superintendent of Adiala jail for appropriate action. Prison authorities did not issue an immediate response following the court order.
