Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha have filed an appeal in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against their conviction in the controversial tweets case.
The appellants have requested suspension of the trial court’s verdict and sought release on bail. In the appeal, Imaan and Chattha stated: "The trial court failed to fulfil legal requirements." They argued that the verdict was announced despite a case transfer application being pending before the high court. They maintained that a decision cannot legally be issued while such an application remains under consideration.
The appellants claim that the trial court ignored transparency by curtailing their right of defence. They said they were arrested after being subjected to violence while on their way to court. According to the appeal, the trial court did not review the allegation of torture during their appearance through a video link.
The appeal also raised the question of how cross-examination could take place via video link from jail without the case file. The IHC has been requested to declare the trial court’s January 24 verdict null and void and to grant bail.
