ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terro­rism Court (ATC) on Monday remanded human rights activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and former South Waziristan MNA Ali Wazir in police custody on a three-day physical remand.

They have been booked for allegedly committing sedition and preventing government officials from carrying out their duties.

Former human rights minister Dr Shireen Mazari, Imaan’s mother, was also present in court, headed by Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain.

Before the hearing, she embraced her daughter and tried to cheer up her.

SCBA strongly condemns lawyer’s arrest, terms physical remand ‘utterly unlawful’

Police sought custody of the human rights lawyer and Mr Wazir for conducting photogrammetric and voice matching tests as part of investigation into the cases.

Prosecutor Raja Naveed told the court that a case had been registered against Ms Hazir for allegedly making an anti-state speech in 2022. He argued that Ms Hazir has been nominated again in a similar case because of “anti-state” remarks she made at a public meeting organised by the the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) in Islamabad last week.

Mr Wazir and Ms Hazir had both addressed the rally. Videos circulating on social media showed speakers criticising the establishment over enforced disappearances.

Her counsel opposed the request for remand, saying police had already taken Ms Hazir’s mobile phone and laptop in their possession.

The counsel told the court that police arrested her in her night dress and are now trying to portray her as terrorist.

He pointed out that police nominated Ms Hazir along with 900 others as suspects. He said Ms Hazir is a lawyer, not a habitual criminal, and may be sent on judicial remand.

Mr Wazir told the court said he had contacted the caretaker government before the public meeting. The authorities, he added, did not allow him to hold the public meeting in Islamabad and suggested three other sites.

The ex-MNA said the jalsa ended peacefully and no one committed any illegality.

After hearing the arguments, the judge approved a three-day physical remand for both and directed the police to produce them on Thursday.

Two FIRs were registered on Saturday against Ms Hazir and Mr Wazir at the Tarnol police station and CTD police station.

The first FIR was registered on the complaint of Tarnol SHO Mian Mohammad Imran, who stated that during the PTM rally at Tarnol Phatak Chowk, Ms Hazir and Mr Wazir along with PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen violated the no-objection certificate granted by the district administration and began moving ahead of the spot designated for the gathering.

When police tried to stop them, 700-800 participants of the rally armed with sticks confronted them.

The second FIR was registered on the complaint of Ins­p­ector Mohammad Ashraf, who sta­­­ted that Ms Hazir, Mr Pash­teen and others spoke against state institutions and their heads and, among other things, attempted to incite rebellion.

SCBA condemnation

The Supreme Court Bar Asso­ciation has strongly condemned Ms Hazir’s arrest. In a press release issued on Monday, the bar pointed out that apart from being a renowned human rights activist, Ms Hazir was also an advocate, and her arrest was in clear violation of all principles of fairness and justice, as well contradictory to the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.

It also expressed concern over her three-day physical remand, calling it “utterly unlawful” and noting that there was nothing to recover from her beyond her own statement. “The order of the ATC not only violates our jurisprudence but also raises questions about the legitimacy of the so-called charges under which she has been arrested.”

The statement, attributed to SCBA Secretary Muqtedir Akhtar Shabbir also said that “tactics of arresting people in so-called FIRs and grant of unlawful physical remand cannot be condoned in a civilised society where rule of law is protected. Thus, this association demands the immediate release of Ms Imaan Mazari”.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2023