IHC summons IGP on May 31 in contempt case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday summoned the federal capital’s police chief in personal capacity on May 31, directing him to submit written comments in a contempt case regarding the re-arrest of former PTI leader Shireen Mazari.

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the contempt case against the Islamabad inspector general of police and others.

Mazari’s daughter, Advocate Imaan Mazari, was present in court along with her lawyer, Zainab Janjua.

The court remarked that apparently, it seemed that the IGP had preferred the orders of the ICT deputy commissioner over the IHC's decision.

At the outset of the hearing, Justice Aurangzeb remarked that the court should have been told on the very first day why the state machinery had been made active.

“The court should have been told that the arrest of Mazari had no connection with the MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) so that it may hear any other case,” he said.

The court expressed annoyance over the absence of the Islamabad IGP before the court, saying that he should have appeared in person before the court.
The additional attorney general apprised the bench that the IGP would arrive here shortly as he was currently in the court of chief justice.

The court adjourned the hearing till May 31.

On May 22, former federal minister Mazari was taken into custody from outside Adiala Jail for the fifth time in 12 days despite court orders for her release.
The court had nullified the second MPO case against Mazari, according to her lawyers. The next day, the IHC summoned the IGP of the federal capital over a contempt plea filed in this regard.

Later on the same day, Mazari addressed the media in Islamabad, announcing that she was not only leaving the PTI but also saying goodbye to active politics.
She stated that her health and her daughter Imaan had both suffered extensively during her 12-day incarceration.