3-day remand for Imaan Mazari

ISLAMABAD:

An Islamabad anti-terrorism court on Tuesday granted police a three-day physical remand of human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali, in a case related to interference in government operations during the route of an international cricket team.

ATC judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain presided over the hearing.

Lawyers Attaullah Kundi and Qaiser Imam appeared as counsels for the couple while Raja Naveed was present as the prosecutor.

The prosecutor requested a 30-day remand, arguing that the presence of international teams in Pakistan is of great importance, as they are given the status of state guests.

Judge Zulqarnain questioned the prosecutor about the nature of the case and the necessity of a 30-day remand for Imaan and her husband.

In response, prosecutor Raja Naveed, while reading the case details, explained that traffic had been stopped due to the England cricket team's route, as the team was in Pakistan for a three-match Test series and receiving state-level security.

Naveed said the suspects attempted to remove barriers set up by the police.

He further said Ali attacked traffic constable Ibrahim Khan when the latter tried to restore the barriers, allowing two or three motorcycles to cross the blockade.

"When the local police arrived, both lawyers retreated," the prosecutor stated, referring to Imaan and Ali.

At this point, the suspects' counsel, Kundi, questioned the invocation of terrorism charges, asking, "How did the police register the section for terrorism in this case?"

He suggested that Imaan, also a lawyer, was rushing to court for a client, which led to the altercation. He further claimed, "The police hit her with the barrier, the medical report for which is present."

Imam, another defence counsel, commented on the police's request: "The police are so obstinate that they are asking for a 30-day remand."

Imam also noted that the individual involved in the altercation with the suspects was dressed in plain clothes, adding, "Now we are giving people in plain clothes so much respect." He reiterated that the relevant offence, not the Anti-Terrorism Act, should apply.

The judge then asked why the prosecutor required a 30-day remand. Naveed responded, "We have to conduct an inquiry. They (the England Test team) were state guests. Their protection is our responsibility."

He further referenced the 2009 Lahore attack on the Sri Lankan team, saying, "The Sri Lankan team was attacked, policemen were martyred, Sri Lankan players were injured."

Later, the judge then announced the reserved order, granting a three-day physical remand for Imaan and her husband, Hadi Ali.