August 25, 2023
By Maryam Missal
LAHORE
Advocate Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Ali Wazir of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) were awarded bail by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Monday. However, despite being granted bail in both cases, Mazari remains in custody as of now.
Both Wazir and Mazari-Hazir were charged with sedition, preventing government officials from carrying out their duties and damaging public property in relation to their involvement in the PTM rally.
The charges stemmed from allegations of delivering speeches that criticized state institutions and promoting actions that disrupted public order.
The decision came following their arrest on August 19 after a PTM rally in the federal capital, which resulted in two first information reports (FIR) being registered against them.
The two individuals were initially placed under 14-day judicial remand due to their alleged involvement in seditious activities. However, Imaan Mazari-Hazir managed to secure bail in the second case, which pertained to damaging government property and interfering in state affairs during a protest that occurred on August 18. A local judge approved her application for bail in this case.
During the recent court proceedings of the sedition case, the prosecutor requested an extension of the remand for both accused individuals.
The prosecutor highlighted that the report of the USB, presumably containing evidence related to the alleged seditious activities, was still pending, and forensic analysis of the event needed to be completed.
Despite these arguments, the court decided to grant bail to both Ali Wazir and Imaan Mazari-Hazir. In exchange for their release, each of them was required to pay a bail amount of Rs30,000.
Usama Khilji, a prominent human rights activist verified to Voicepk.net that Mazari-Hazir’s release has not yet taken place, and she is presently held at Adiala Jail. Her legal representatives are actively working to facilitate her release procedure.
Conversely, Ali Wazir is currently anticipating bail in connection with the dacoity case lodged against him.
According to Attaullah Kundi, Wazir’s legal counsel, they are awaiting a bail order from the judicial magistrate. Earlier today, both the prosecutor and the defendant presented their arguments before the magistrate in relation to Ali Wazir’s dacoity charges, Kundi told Voicepk.net.
As the legal proceedings continue, the case of Ali Wazir and Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir remains a focal point in the ongoing debate over the balance between individual rights, freedom of speech, and the preservation of national security interests in Pakistan.