- PTI founder, Latif Khosa, Shibli Faraz, Niazullah Niazi, Azam Swati and Salman Akram Raja among those named in the case
ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court Islamabad on Friday remanded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer Mustafin Kazmi into the police custody for four days in a case registered on charges of alleged misbehaviour with Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra granted the physical remand after hearing the arguments put forward by the public prosecutor and the defence counsels, including Emaan Mazari and Advocate Rizwan.
Earlier, the police produced Advocate Mustafin Kazmi in the court where his lawyers – Emaan Mazari and Rizwan, among others were also present.
During the hearing, prosecutor Raja Naveed read out the First Information Report (FIR) detailing the charges against Kazmi.
The defence argued that all individuals named in the FIR were lawyers, to which the prosecutor responded, “No one is above the law.”
At which ATC Judge Supra questioned who has the [authority] to determine “who is above the law.” Following this, the prosecutor requested for a nine-day physical remand of Kazmi, which was opposed by the defence counsels.
The court, however, approved a four-day remand and adjourned the case until October 8.
Kazmi’s arrest came following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards Chief Justice Isa during the hearing of review plea of the apex court’s 2022 verdict on defection clauses of Article 63(A).
It is to be noted that PTI Chairman Imran Khan has also been named in the case registered at the Secretariat Police Station following a protest by lawyers outside the apex court.
PTI MNA Latif Khosa, Senator Shibli Faraz, Niazullah Niazi, Azam Swati and Salman Akram Raja are also among those named in the case registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
On Wednesday, a large number of lawyers belonging to the PTI staged a protest outside the Supreme Court against the formation of the five-member larger bench hearing the review petition on the court’s interpretation of Article 63-A of the Constitution.
Despite the noisy protest outside, the hearing of the review petition continued. The case was heard by a five-judge larger bench, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and included Justices – Aminuddin Khan, Jamal Mandokhail, Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Mazhar Alam Miankhel.
During the hearing, PTI’s counsel, Tayyab Mustafain Kazmi, threatened the bench, stating that 500 lawyers were protesting outside and that he would see how the bench gave a decision against the PTI. Kazmi warned the bench of dire consequences if the verdict went against his party.
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa condemned the threat, asserting, “We will not tolerate insults.” He asked the lawyer if he believed the country’s institutions should be run through threats and intimidation, emphasizing his patience in the face of such behavior.
The chief justice then asked Kazmi, “How many members of parliament were sent to jail by former chief justice Saqib Nisar?” Kazmi replied that the current bench was not incorrect, adding, “The PTI is the victim in this case.”
Angered, the chief justice called for the police.
Tayyab Mustafain Kazmi was arrested by Islamabad police on Thursday.
Kazmi was taken into custody from F-7/4 and transferred to the Secretariat Police Station following his disruptive behaviour during proceedings on Article 63-A review petitions.
