October 30, 2024
By Ahmed Saeed
ISLAMABAD
The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday suspended the physical remand of lawyers and activists Imaan Mazari and her spouse Hadi Ali in the anti-terrorism case.
On October 29, the couple was remanded to police custody for three days for allegedly obstructing police officials at a road barrier during the England cricket team’s visit to the federal capital. Mazari and Ali challenged the anti-terrorism court’s order in the Islamabad High Court remanding them to police custody.
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, heard the appeal. Qaiser Imam, counsel for Mazari and Ali, appeared before the bench and read the remand order on the court’s direction. The bench suspended the trial court’s remand order and notified Islamabad police to submit a reply tomorrow (October 31).
Earlier, former minister Shireen Mazari told Voicepk that she feared for her daughter’s safety after the Islamabad police had denied family members access to the rights activist while she was in custody.
“Our doubts regarding her (Imaan’s) safety will persist until the family members get direct access which is not the case as of yet,” Shireen Mazari said. “When Imaan fainted in the lock-up on a previous occasion, the police did not provide her with medical assistance,” she said. “Police are also obligated to give access to the family members and lawyers of suspects under the law.”
In her view, the rights advocate was being targeted as she was the counsel in important human rights cases, including that of Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch. Shireen Mazari added, that the family was worried that police have not yet returned Imaan’s personal belongings including her cell phone and purse which could be misused.
Senior journalist Matiullah Jan welcomed the Islamabad High Court’s decision to swiftly suspend the remand order. He said the bench was cognizant of the fact that the trial court judges often overstepped the law in previous cases.
The couple’s counsels are filing a bail application before the anti-terrorism court. The Islamabad police claimed that Mazari and Ali were arrested for allegedly obstructing police officials during the international cricket team’s visit.
The FIR charged the couple with offences filed under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, sections 503 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 353 (relating to assault or criminal force to deter public servant), 186 (relating to obstructing public servant), 148 (relating to rioting with deadly weapon), 149 (relating to unlawful assembly) and 120-B (relating to premeditated offence).