ISLAMABAD: The capital police on Monday arrested lawyer Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali on terrorism charges days after the couple engaged in an altercation with the traffic police officials who had barricaded the route near Zero Point to ensure the safe movement of the English cricket team.

In light of the altercation, a case was registered at the Aabpara police station on Friday and the police arrested the couple on Monday while they were heading towards the Red Zone via Margalla Road.

The FIR was registered under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act along with sections 506 ii (punishment for criminal intimidation), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), and 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of the PPC.

After the arrest, they were moved to the Secretariat police station from where Ms Mazari was taken to the Women Police Station and her husband to the Aabpara police station for legal procedures.

HRCP denounces arrest on vague charges

They will be produced in the magistrate’s court for remand on Tuesday (today).

On Friday, Ms Mazari and her husband removed the police barricades on Faisal Avenue near Zero Point that had been placed for the security of the English cricket team. The couple was heard saying “this road belongs to all” made a few attempts to remove the barricades, but every time the staff of the Islamabad Traffic Police placed the barricades back in the same place.

In the video that went viral, Imaan’s husband could be heard using foul language against the police officials and also resorted to physical abuse. He also threatened to police staff to “break their hands” if they tried to touch his wife, Imaan. The couple remained engaged in a heated argument with the police for over six minutes till the barricade was removed after the team passed.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in a statement denounced the arrest on vague charges of ‘creating a security risk’.

“Both are committed, well-respected human rights defenders, whose arbitrary arrest is symptomatic of the rapidly shrinking space for activists in Pakistan. Ms Mazari-Hazir and Mr Ali must be released immediately and unconditionally and all charges against them dropped,” the HRCP said.

Verbal attacks and manhandling of police personnel have become a regular feature in Islamabad, as many such cases have been registered by the police in the recent past.

On October 21, a car rider identified as Osama bin Shahid attempted to hit a police patrolling team when they tried to stop him on suspicion in Sector I-10/3. The police team chased and intercepted him. The suspect used foul language and threatened the police, saying he would get their uniform removed. His father also arrived there and threatened the officials.

A police team subsequently arrived at the spot which took them into custody and shifted them to the Sabzi Mandi police station and a case was registered against them under sections 279, 186, 353, and 506 of the PPC. On October 22, the police, however, assisted Osama and his father in getting bail from the magistrate by requesting their judicial remand after knowing that Osama’s marriage ceremony was scheduled for October 27.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2024