The appeal was filed through Advocate Faisal Siddiqui against the high court’s September 10 order.
The petitioners contended that statements of two prosecution witnesses had been recorded without giving the defence an opportunity to cross-examine them. They also argued that the Islamabad High Court, in its October 19 order, had declined to grant interim relief against the trial proceedings.
The appeal asks the Supreme Court to set aside the October 19 order and restrain the trial court from proceeding with the case.
Meanwhile, a separate hearing was held at the Islamabad High Court on a petition challenging the jail trial of Imaan and Chattha, as well as the appointment of a state counsel in the barricade-removal case.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Inam Ameen Minhas and Justice Shah Rukh Arjumand heard the matter. Lawyers Riasat Ali Azad and Zainab Janjua appeared on behalf of the petitioners.
The lawyers argued that the jail trial had already been challenged before the court and that the accused should have been heard before a decision was made to conduct proceedings inside the prison.
Justice Minhas questioned the legal basis for challenging the decision on the trial venue and asked who had the authority to determine where an accused person should be tried.
In response, counsel Azad argued that the process had been initiated through a summary submitted by the Islamabad police’s senior superintendent of police and subsequently approved by the chief commissioner.
He contended that the police officer lacked the authority to initiate the process and that this power rested with the federal government.
The court also raised questions about whether the proposal for a jail trial required consideration by the federal cabinet and the principles governing open-court proceedings.
The report did not provide details of any final ruling in the high court proceedings.