Judicial inquiry ordered into Mazari's arrest

CJ Athar Minallah directs to provide security to former federal minister, return her mobile phone

ISLAMABAD:

The police produced the former human rights minister before the court on Saturday night.

The IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah had earlier directed the authorities to produce Mazari before him at 11:30pm after her daughter filed a plea against her mother’s arrest.

In a three-page order, the IHC CJ said that the authorities shall explain under what authority of law the fundamental rights of Dr Shireen Mazari were violated while she was within the jurisdiction of this court.
The IHC CJ ordered the immediate release of Mazari and asked the authorities to return the ex-federal minister’s phone to her.

At the onset of the hearing, Mazari told the court: "I was stopped on the Motorway for an hour. A male doctor tried to conduct my medical examination. They did not have a female officer with them. Officers of Anti-Corruption Punjab were taking instructions on the phone. My bag was also searched without a warrant, while I have still not been given my phone back."

"There was another person with the anti-corruption officials and he probably was with the ISI," she added.
At this, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah ruled that the government had not taken any action on enforced disappearances. "These incidents happen when the Constitution is not respected. Every government exhibits woeful behaviour on constitutional violations."

Mazari told Justice Minallah that she was 70 and sick but was still subjected to torture.

The chief justice remarked: "This court will not compromise on its jurisdiction. The abduction of Matiullah Jan has not been probed till date."

At this, the deputy attorney general replied: "We cannot work 24/7. Work on Matiullah Jan's case is ongoing and we will conclude the investigation soon."

The chief justice wondered how it was possible that no one knew the details of Mazari's arrest.
The IHC's order comes after the PTI leader's daughter, Imaan Zainab Mazari, filed a petition against her mother being "illegally abducted by officials of the Punjab Police".

Speaking to journalists before entering the courtroom, the PTI leader lamented that she still had not gotten her phone back.

The former human rights minister was allegedly beaten up and arrested from her home on Saturday.
Mazari's daughter tweeted about her mother's arrest saying, "Male police officers have beaten and taken my mother away. All I have been told is that Anti-Corruption Wing Lahore has taken her.

Male police officers have beaten and taken my mother away. All I have been told is that Anti Corruption Wing Lahore has taken her.

— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) May 21, 2022

Islamabad Police however refuted claims of mishandling during the arrest. “Dr Shireen Mazari was arrested by female police officers as per the law at the request of the anti-corruption department. News of any mishandling is baseless,” it said in a tweet.

Dr. Shireen Mazari was arrested by female police officers as per the law on the request of the anti-corruption department. News of any mishandling is baseless.

— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) May 21, 2022