ISLAMABAD: Anti-terrorism court judge, Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain, of Islamabad ordered Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Ali Wazir and human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari to be taken into police custody for a three-day physical remand.
The decision came on Monday, following a request by the prosecution for a 10-day physical remand. The charges against them relate to sedition, intimidation, and inciting people, stemming from a contentious speech they delivered at a recent PTM public rally in the capital city.
The Islamabad police arrested Imaan and Wazir in the early hours of Sunday and secured their remand from a local court on the same day. The two were presented before Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain in the federal capital earlier today.
Upon their arrival at the Islamabad Judicial Complex, Imaan embraced her mother, Shireen Mazari. Wazir, on the other hand, appeared in court with his face concealed. Imaan announced that she had initiated a hunger strike and expressed frustration over not being questioned during the investigation. During the court proceedings, Imaan’s legal representative informed the bench that she had been remanded into police custody for a single day. The lawyer questioned the lack of evidence against Imaan Mazari and argued that she posed no escape risk.
Imaan’s legal team requested permission from the Anti-Terrorism Court to meet their client, citing her fainting episode the previous day. The lawyer maintained that the police had confiscated her laptop and mobile phone, but no substantial evidence had been presented against her.
When Wazir addressed the court, he defended the content of their rally speech, asserting that nothing inappropriate was said. Wazir mistakenly referred to the judge as “Mr. Speaker” at one point. Ultimately, Judge Zulqarnain reserved his decision on the prosecution’s plea for a 10-day remand and later announced a three-day police custody for both Wazir and Imaan.
After the hearing, Shireen Mazari, Imaan’s mother and former human rights minister, expressed concerns about her daughter’s well-being. She claimed that Imaan had fainted and was not allowed to see a doctor while being transported by the police. She highlighted that Imaan had gone on a hunger strike to protest the conditions. Mazari also asserted that Imaan’s life was in danger in jail and requested the court to consider releasing her.
In response to these allegations, the Islamabad Police took to social media, specifically X (formerly Twitter), to dismiss the claims made by Imaan’s lawyer and mother.
They clarified that the investigation process is completed during remand, and accused individuals are provided with medical care and examined by government doctors. The police statement also explained that while detainees are provided with necessary items, they cannot necessarily have facilities of their choice during detention and remand.
(Islamabad51-Newsdesk)
