- In written verdict, Justice Kayani directs Establishment Division Secretary, Punjab Home Department to probe matter
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday declared the arrest of former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shireen Mazari by the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) on May 21, 2022, as illegal.
The court also directed the Establishment Division Secretary and the Punjab Home Department to conduct an inquiry into the matter.
IHC’s Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani announced the reserved decision, which declared Mazari’s arrest by the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment on May 21, 2022, as illegal.
“The arrest was carried out without legal justification,” Justice Kayani remarked.
The court also nullified the commission’s report regarding her arrest. The ruling also called for a thorough review of the procedures followed during Mazari’s arrest by the ACE.
Mazari’s arrests
Mazari was first arrested on May 12 in 2022 under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO).
The party leader was re-arrested from outside her residence in Islamabad by the Punjab police after securing bail from the Lahore High Court (LHC).
Mazari’s lawyer had confirmed the re-arrest of his client. In a tweet, Barrister Ahsan J. Pirzada said that the former human rights minister has been arrested for the “fourth time” in ten days.
Earlier this year, on March 19, a Special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) issued arrest warrants for several top Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including more than two dozen current and former assembly members, in 12 cases in connection with violent attacks on the sensitive state installations on May 9 last year.
Mazari was among the leaders to whom the warrants were issued.
All the leaders were charged with conspiracy in the cases registered at RA Bazaar, Race Course, New Town, Civil Lines, Sadiqabad and other police stations.
Soon after the May 9 riots, last year, the former federal minister announced quitting PTI and politics.
On May 23, 2023, Shireen Mazari condemned the May 9 riots, saying that she had always opposed violence.
She reasoned her decision to quit politics with deteriorating health conditions following her 12-day detention post-May 9 riots when protesters took to the streets across the country after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested from the court premises in Islamabad.
Last year, the IHC ordered the removal of her name from the ECL. The court, in its December 2 verdict, said that Mazari was not declared absconder in any case.
The IHC ordered the director general of Immigration and Passports to remove her name from the ECL which imposes travel restrictions on individuals.
