IHC Directs Shireen Mazari to Follow Jail Procedure for Meeting Daughter

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday instructed former federal minister Shireen Mazari to first seek approval from the Adiala Jail authorities for a meeting with her daughter, rights activist Imaan Mazari, and son-in-law Hadi Ali Chattha.

The court observed that legal procedure must be followed and that any request for a jail meeting should initially be submitted to the jail superintendent before seeking judicial intervention.

Mazari had approached the IHC after allegedly being denied permission by jail officials to meet her daughter and son-in-law, who are currently incarcerated at Adiala Jail. She argued that jail laws entitled her to the meeting and described the refusal as unlawful.

Imaan Mazari and Chattha were convicted on January 24 in Islamabad in a case related to alleged “anti-state” posts and reposts on social media platform X. The case, registered in August 2025 by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, was filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016. Authorities claimed the content sought to undermine state institutions and had links to proscribed elements. The convictions drew widespread criticism from lawyers, politicians and civil society groups.

The petition was heard by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, with Mazari appearing alongside her counsel, Kamran Murtaza. During the proceedings, the court asked whether a formal application had been filed with the jail administration. Justice Tahir noted that the law required petitioners to approach the relevant administrative authority before invoking the court’s jurisdiction.

“You must first submit an application to the jail authorities,” the judge remarked, adding that the court could only intervene if the request was rejected.

The court advised Mazari to approach either the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad or the superintendent of Adiala Jail. Upon her counsel’s request, the court allowed time for the jail superintendent to consider the application.

The petition was subsequently disposed of and forwarded to the Adiala Jail superintendent for necessary action. Jail authorities did not issue an immediate response following the court’s directions.