IHC tells Shireen Mazari to seek jail approval for meeting daughter, son-in-law

Court says legal procedure must be followed before seeking relief over Adiala Jail meeting

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday directed that a petition filed by former federal minister Shireen Mazari over the 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 by jail authorities to allow Mazari to meet her daughter and son-in-law, who are currently in custody at Adiala Jail.

Rights advocate Imaan Mazari and her husband Chattha were convicted on January 24 in Islamabad in a case linked to alleged posts and reposts on X that investigators described as “anti-state”. The case was registered in August 2025 by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016. Authorities alleged the content aimed to undermine state institutions and align with proscribed organisations or individuals.

The convictions were widely condemned by members of the legal community, politicians and civil society.

Mazari filed the petition in the IHC on Tuesday, seeking enforcement of what she said was her legal right to meet her daughter and son-in-law under jail laws. “I am a mother. I want to meet my daughter and my son-in-law, but you are preventing me,” she told the court.

Read: Shireen Mazari moves IHC seeking right to meet daughter, son-in-law in Adiala Jail

Earlier on Tuesday, Mazari had attempted to visit her daughter at Adiala Jail but was not allowed to meet her.

The matter was heard by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir. Mazari appeared before the court along with her counsel, Kamran Murtaza, and other lawyers.

During the hearing, the court asked whether a formal application had been submitted to the jail superintendent. Addressing Mazari, Justice Tahir said the law required such a request to be made through the relevant administrative authority before approaching the court.

“You should first file an application and then come to us,” the judge observed, adding that the procedure laid down by law must be followed.

The court advised Mazari to approach either Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa or Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig. Justice Tahir said that if the request was rejected by the authorities, the court could then be approached for relief.

Mazari’s counsel requested the court to allow the jail superintendent one or two days to consider the application.

The court subsequently disposed of the petition and directed that it be forwarded to the superintendent of Adiala Jail for appropriate action. No immediate response was issued by jail authorities following the court’s order.