ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court on Friday remanded human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari to jail for 14 days in a case registered on charges of collecting money for anti-state activities.
Mazari was presented before Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain and the court approved her judicial remand. The next hearing for her bail application is scheduled for Monday. Imaan will be held in Islamabad’s Women’s Police Station until then.
Following the expiry of Imaan’s three-day physical remand, her counsel filed a petition in the ATC requesting a change in the bail hearing date. The petition prayed for an expedited hearing either today or tomorrow. Lawyer Zainab Janjua conveyed this request to the judge while he was still in his chamber.
However, since the judge was unavailable on both days, the court decided to schedule the hearing for Monday.
Imaan Mazari had initially been granted bail by the ATC in another case registered against her for participating in a protest in the federal capital organised by the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement. However, she was arrested only hours later by Islamabad police on a first information report (FIR) registered at the Bara Kahu police station under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
Lawyer Qaiser Imam further said that Imaan’s medical condition is deteriorating and requested the court to keep her at Islamabad’s Women’s Police Station. Judge Zulqarnain stated that a decision regarding the case would be made after hearing arguments on Monday.
On Wednesday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) restricted the authorities from taking Imaan out of the federal capital while she was under arrest.
Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb heard Imaan’s plea seeking details of all disclosed or undisclosed cases against her.
Imaan’s mother, former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and federal human rights minister, Shireen Mazari appeared before the court along with her lawyers Salman Akram Raja and Qaiser Imam.
The petitioner’s lawyers stated that it became necessary to file such a plea as two cases were registered against Imaan – pertaining to terrorism and sedition. She was arrested in both cases and acquired bail in both but as soon as she was released from Adiala jail, the renowned human rights lawyer was arrested in a third case, the counsels informed the court.
