Gulalai Ismail's parents acquitted in sedition, terror case

MNA Mohsin Dawar says Gulalai's family harrassed for 'far too long'

PESHAWAR:

An anti-terror court in Peshawar acquitted the parents of Gulalai Ismail, Professor M Ismail and his spouse, in a case of sedition, conspiracy against the state, terrorism and terror funding.

Ismail announced the court’s decision through his Twitter handle on Wednesday.

Anti Terrorism Court 1 Peshawar, acquitted me and my spouse in the case of Sedition, Conspiracy against State, Terrorism and Terror Financing.

— Prof.M.Ismail (@ProfMIsmail) February 15, 2023

“Peshawar anti-terrorism court acquitted my parents in the fake and malafide case of sedition, terrorism and conspiracy against the state after more than three years of harassment and innumerable court appearances,” pro-Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) activist Gulalai Ismail stated.

Today Peshawar anti-terrorism court acquitted my parents in the fake & malafide case of sedition,terrosim & conspiracy against the state after more than 3 years of harassment and innumerable court appearances. I am thankful to those who stood with us during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/p2yr3YTvPI

— Gulalai Ismail ګلالۍاسماعیل (@Gulalai_Ismail) February 15, 2023

She also thanked those who stood with the family during the “difficult time”.

Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Mohsin Dawar congratulated Gulalai’s family and stated they had been persecuted and harassed “for far too long”.

Congratulations to @ProfMIsmail and his wife, parents of @NDM_Official leader @Gulalai_Ismail, who have been acquitted by the ATC in Peshawar in the fake case filed against them. They have been harassed and persecuted for far too long. Their resolve remains unshaken. pic.twitter.com/8VxaE3vI0E

— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) February 15, 2023

“Their resolve remains unshaken,” he added.

The Counter-Terrorism Department charged Gulalai and her family in a first information report (FIR) registered in July 2019. In 2021, the ATC refused to indict Gulalai and her parents due to the lack of evidence in the case.

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It maintained that because no evidence was provided by the prosecution, the charge couldn’t be framed against the accused, and they were discharged.

The CTD later submitted the complete sheet and produced more documents, claiming that the Ismails had aided the terrorists that attacked the All Saints Church in Peshawar in 2013 and Imamia Masjid in Hayatabad in 2015.

Subsequently, in 2020 the court indicted Gulalai’s parents on sedition, inciting war against the state, and facilitation of terror attacks. They had pleaded not guilty and later faced trial.

In October 2019, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said it had arrested the father of a political activist for spreading hate of the state on social media. Professor Muhammad Ismail was detained after leaving a court in Peshawar.

Gulalai, a vocal critic of the government, went into hiding in 2019 when a case was registered against her for allegedly defaming state institutions and instigating violence through a speech at a demonstration against the killing and abuse of a minor girl. She emerged in the United States in September.