Islamabad IGP made party in contempt case over Mazari's arrest

Former federal minister, PTI leader was taken into custody despite court orders for release

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued a notice of contempt to the federal capital's inspector general (IG) in a plea related to the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Shireen Mazari.

The court was hearing a plea wherein the petitioner requested for Islamabad IGP to be made party to the case. Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb accepted the plea and issued notice to the IGP. The hearing was adjourned till May 25.

On Monday, Mazari was taken into custody for the fourth time in 10 days from outside Adiala Jail despite being released on court orders.

“72-year-old Dr Shireen Mazari arrested by Punjab Police for the fourth time in 10 days. We have no idea where they have taken her. This is the second time she has been arrested from outside Adiala Jail as soon as the Court ordered her release [sic],” wrote her lawyer on Twitter.

72 year old Dr. @ShireenMazari1 arrested by Punjab Police for the fourth time in 10 days. We have no idea where they have taken her. This is the second time she has been arrested from outside Adiala Jail as soon as the Court ordered her release. @ImaanZHazir#ReleaseShireenMazari

— Barrister Ahsan J. Pirzada (@AhsanJPirzada) May 22, 2023

The Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench had ordered Mazari’s release. The former federal minister has been put through multiple arrests in recent days under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance 1960.

Her daughter, human rights lawyer and activist, Imaan Mazari, who is also representing the former minister has accused the authorities of torture and violation of rights.

According to Mazari’s lawyers, this is the second time in a row that the PTI leader has been arrested after being released from Adiala Jail on court orders.

Meanwhile, PTI chairperson and former prime minister Imran Khan condemned Mazari’s arrest and said that this was merely an attempt to “break her spirit”.

“This regime is sinking to new lows. Her health is fragile…Shireen won’t break as she has more courage than most people I have come across in my life. However, the country is rapidly descending towards becoming a Banana republic where might is right.”

Strongly condemn Shireen Mazari's arrest from outside Adiala after her release orders were issued by the court.
This regime is sinking to new lows . Her health is fragile and subjecting her to this ordeal by rearresting her despite courts giving her bail is simply trying to break…

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 23, 2023

Other PTI leaders are currently facing a similar ordeal - repeatedly being forced to circle courts to acquire bail which is then disregarded by law enforcement personnel making fresh arrests in other cases lodged against them.