The Islamabad High Court (IHHC) on Thursday extended its order preventing authorities from transferring human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari to facilities outside of the federal capital while she remains under arrest.
Notably, the activist had been arrested alongside former lawmaker Ali Wazir for participating in a protest organised by the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) on August 20.
The two accused had been nominated in two First Information Reports (FIRs) containing charges of rioting, sedition and terrorism.
Imaan had succeeded in obtaining relief from an anti-terrorism court (ATC) earlier this week, only to be arrested again outside Adiala Jail.
A case was filed with the IHC seeking details of cases registered against Imaan while also requesting the court to grant her protective bail.
Yesterday, Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the matter and restricted the authorities from arresting Imaan in any case pertaining to incidents post-August 20, 2023 and also prevented them from transferring her to facilities outside of Islamabad.
As the court resumed hearing the matter today, the interior ministry officials appeared before the court.
Justice Aurangzeb inquired whether the officials had requested the provincial authorities for the details of the cases filed against Imaan, in response to which the officials said that "the federal government cannot give orders to the provinces in such matters".
Justice Aurangzeb expressed surprise at the response saying, "What are you saying? We have only asked you to get the information."
Read ATC sends Imaan Mazari on three-day physical remand
The assistant attorney general (AAG) told the court that the order was received late and therefore sought time from the court. However, Imaan's lawyer Salman Akram Raja argued that they were afraid she would be arrested from outside Adiala Jail again.
The IHC directed the authorities to submit a challan and begin trial while Imaan was in custody.
Meanwhile, the court also issued directions to the interior secretary, IG and FIA whereby orders preventing her transfer to facilities outside of Islamabad were extended until Monday.
Similarly, the high court has also extended orders preventing Imaan's arrest in cases registered after August 20, 2023.
Before postponing the proceedings until September 4, the court also ordered the interior secretary to obtain the details of the cases against Imaan from the provincial authorities and inform the court by Monday.
IG Police fined in Shireen Mazari ECL case
The IHC imposed a fine of Rs25,000 on the IG Islamabad as it heard the plea seeking the removal of former human rights minister Shireen Mazari's name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
In his three-page order, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri fined the police official and ordered him to submit a report on the delay within two weeks.
Read more In blow to PTI, Mazari quits party, politics
On August 2, IG Islamabad was ordered to submit a reply within a week on the matter. However, the official failed to comply with court orders by August 10 and sought an extension instead.
Despite the IHC having granted him an additional week, the IG was unable to produce an explanation before the court on August 29.
The high court ruled that the IG should pay Rs25,000 to the petitioner Shireen Mazari before the next hearing for not having been able to submit a response even today.
In the court order, it was stated that the IG should conduct an inquiry as to why the answer was not submitted as per the directions of the IHC.
Further, the IG has been granted two week's time to complete the inquiry, take action and submit a report to the IHC for the delay.
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