Court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for activist

Published October 2, 2019
An additional district and sessions court on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for activist Gulalai Ismail in a case related to maligning national institutions. — Reuters/File
An additional district and sessions court on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for activist Gulalai Ismail in a case related to maligning national institutions. — Reuters/File

ISLAMABAD: An additional district and sessions court on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for activist Gulalai Ismail in a case related to maligning national institutions.

The court issued the order that if the suspect does not appear before the court on Oct 21, the process to declare her a proclaimed offender could be initiated.

The activist reportedly mysteriously escaped from Pakistan after her passport was confiscated and is currently seeking political asylum in the United States.

In March this year, the Islamabad High Court, while hearing her petition, directed the interior ministry to remove her name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

The court, however, allowed the interior ministry to take appropriate action against her, including the confiscation of her passport, based on the recommendations by the Inter-Services Intelligence.

In November last year, the IHC was informed that the ISI recommended putting the rights activist’s name on the ECL for her alleged anti-state activities abroad.

In her petition, she sought the retrieval of her passport and travel documents which the Federal Investigation Agency had confiscated upon her arrival in Pakistan on Oct 12 when she was detained at the FIA’s office in Islamabad’s Sector G-13.

According to the petition, Ms Ismail is the chairperson of non-governmental organisation “Aware Girls” and has received national and international acclaim for her work on empowering Pakistani women.

The petition said that the FIA had on Oct 12 detained her when she returned from the UK in connection with her alleged association with the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement and for allegedly “delivering anti-state speeches”.

Ms Ismail argued in her petition that the federal government placed her name on the ECL and the FIA confiscated her passport without giving her an opportunity to defend herself.

She requested the court to order the removal of her name from the ECL and return her passport.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd , 2019

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...