August 13, 206
By Hashir Ahsan
ISLAMABAD
A division bench of the Islamabad High Court, comprising Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro and Justice Muhammad Asif, heard petitions seeking to quash a case registered over a protest related to Kashmir.
During the proceedings, Justice Muhammad Asif remarked, “You people have put these children in jail; have some consideration, they are our own children.”
Advocate General Islamabad Naveed Hayat Malik appeared before the court and stated that the arrests were made on August 3, and the suspects were presented in court on August 4, with 500 individuals named in the case.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro instructed him to speak strictly on legal terms, stating that the court only listens to legal arguments. The Advocate General submitted that the allegations in the FIR were very serious.
Upon Justice Soomro inquiring whether any police officer was injured, the investigating officer responded that no police officer sustained injuries. When the court asked about the items damaged or taken, the investigating officer replied that police shields were snatched and an ARY vehicle was damaged, adding that a crime scene map had already been prepared.
When the court inquired if the petitioners’ counsel was prepared to present arguments, the lawyers affirmed their readiness. However, the AG requested additional time to submit a report, noting that the case was still in its initial stages and an application for quashing the case had been filed.
The petitioners’ counsel argued that protests were held globally without criminal cases being registered, whereas a criminal case was lodged in Pakistan. The AG responded that anyone found uninvolved would be released.
When the petitioners’ counsel requested the court not to treat them like PTI or any other political party, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro expressed strong indignation, instructing the lawyer not to bring political talk into the courtroom. When the lawyer maintained that they were speaking as Pakistanis rather than a political party, Justice Soomro sternly warned, “Respect the court, do not turn it into a street. Lawyers hold respect because of the court. Keep quiet, or action may be taken against you.”
The court subsequently adjourned further hearing on the petitions until August 19.
According to the FIR registered at the Shalimar Police Station, 400 to 500 individuals participated in the protest, blocking roads and suspending traffic.
It stated that the crowd refused to disperse despite police warnings, attacked and damaged a media DSNG vehicle, resisted police personnel, damaged government vehicles, and pelted stones, which injured police officers. Police have arrested over 200 individuals so far in connection with the FIR.
The arrested individuals were produced before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad, where police requested physical remand for an identification parade. The court granted the request and ordered all accused to be transferred to jail until August 18 for the identification parade.
In connection with the same protest, police also registered a separate case against four accused under illegal arms recovery charges. Police maintained that during interrogation, an accused named Daniyal revealed that on July 31, 2026, all arrangements were made upon the call of Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, who incited the crowd through his speech.
Daniyal stated that he and other participants forced shops in F-10 Markaz to close, blocked roads, and chanted slogans. He disclosed that when a large police contingent arrived, he and another accused, Najam, opened fire with 9mm pistols, causing a stampede.
Taking advantage of the chaos, they fled in Mushtaq Ahmed’s double-cabin vehicle and later hid the pistol inside an office closet during the late hours of the night. Following this disclosure, police escorted the accused to the location, where he retrieved a 9mm pistol hidden among clothes inside a wooden closet in the office meeting room and handed it over to police.
The accused stated it was the same unlicensed pistol used during the incident, from which all bullets had been fired.