Islamabad's legal corridors saw fresh motion Friday as rights activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir petitioned the Supreme Court for an expedited hearing of her criminal appeal. The move escalates a procedural battle over a 17-year sentence tied to controversial social media posts, with her legal team alleging that judicial directives have been repeatedly sidestepped. Main Developments The fresh application, filed through senior counsel Faisal Siddiqi, requests the apex court to suspend the January 24, 2026 Additional Sessions Judge verdict until the criminal appeal concludes. This comes after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on February 19 refused to suspend the sentence, a decision now under challenge. Earlier, on July 21, the Supreme Court adjourned the case after being informed the IHC had scheduled the suspension plea for July 24. The court noted the appellant could seek an urgent hearing if circumstances demanded. Subsequently, the high court declared petitions from both Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chatta, inadmissible. Read also: Punjab CM's New Outreach to Lawmakers Signals Shift in Party Relations Central to the application is the claim that the IHC failed to comply with the Supreme Court's May 12 directives. That order instructed the high court to decide the suspension application expeditiously, preferably within two weeks. The plea was fixed for June 1, but proceedings stalled when the Special Public Prosecutor sought an adjournment despite opposition. On June 1, the high court itself acknowledged the Supreme Court's binding timeline, adjourning the matter to the short date of June 4. However, the application alleges respondents then filed a frivolous challenge to the maintainability of the suspension plea. Though dismissed the same day, the IHC did not set a new hearing date, allegedly violating the apex court's directives. Background Mazari, a prominent human rights lawyer, was sentenced on January 24, 2026, by an Additional Sessions Judge in Islamabad. The conviction stems from social media posts deemed controversial, carrying a 17-year prison term. Her husband faces related proceedings. The case has been marked by procedural friction. Despite the Supreme Court's May 12 order for swift resolution, the IHC's handling has drawn criticism from the petitioner's side. An urgent application filed on July 27 also failed to secure a hearing date before the high court. Why It Matters The application alleges that "binding directions of the Supreme Court have been flouted and disregarded," raising questions about judicial compliance. Mazari's detention now exceeds 140 days despite a pending appeal, underscoring the human cost of procedural delays. For legal observers, the case tests the enforceability of Supreme Court timelines against lower court discretion. It also highlights tensions between expedited justice and the rights of appellants in politically sensitive cases involving digital speech. What's Next The Supreme Court must now decide whether to grant the urgent hearing request. If accepted, the court could suspend the sentence pending the appeal's disposal, potentially altering Mazari's custody status. No date has been announced for the apex court's consideration of the application. The IHC's failure to act on the July 27 plea remains an open issue that may also draw judicial scrutiny.