ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court on Tuesday gave custody of lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir to police on three days’ physical remand.

Earlier, the Bhara Kahu police arrested her from outside the Adiala jail on Monday in connection with a case registered on Sunday against her on different charges including terrorism and criminal intimidation.

She was produced before Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain for seeking her remand for investigation, interrogation and recovery of the amount which she allegedly collected for anti-state activities and terrorism.

Counsel for Ms Mazari-Hazir informed the court that the case had been registered against her when she was in jail and her bail petition was to be heard.

The Bhara Kahu police were already present outside the jail when she was released and from there they arrested her, the counsel said, adding that the government had granted the PTM an NoC (No Objection Certificate) for holding the rally.

Her counsel requested the court to discharge Ms Imaan from the case as she neither met the person who got registered the case nor taken any money from him.

Her lawyer said the police have already seized her mobile phone and laptop while Ms Imaan is also willing to hand over her bank statement to them.

After hearing the arguments, the ATC Judge gave the custody of Ms Imaan to police for three days’ physical remand.

According to police sources, the human rights activist has been kept at women’s police station for interrogation in connection with the case registered with the Bhara Kahu Police Station.

Earlier, the Bhara Kahu police registered the case on Sunday at 1:15am in response to a complaint lodged by one Shahzad, a resident of Naiabadi of Bhara Kahu against Ms Mazari-Hazir, Ali Wazir, and others, under Section 11-N of the Anti-Terrorism Act, as well as sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code. Section 11-N of the ATA deals with punishment under sections 11-H to 11-K, which include charges of fund raising, use and possession, funding arrangements and money laundering for the purpose of terrorism.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2023