Pakistan
Interference in state operations: Remand of Iman Mazari, husband granted
Prosecution requested 30-day physical remand of Iman Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali
Islamabad: The three-day physical remand of lawyer Iman Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali, who were arrested on the charge of interference in the government operations, was approved.
Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Islamabad Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain heard the case of interference in state matters against Iman Mazari and her husband. The accused also appeared in the court.
The prosecution requested a 30-day physical remand of Iman Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali, upon which the judge inquired about the case and why the remand was demanded.
Prosecutor Raja Naveed read the text of the case which stated that the England team route was stopped in the traffic who was provided with state security.
He argued that both the husband and wife came and were trying to remove the barrier. The accused woman told the police that she was Iman Mazari and the road did not belong to their father. Ibrahim Khan traffic officer tried to put the barriers back, but male lawyer Abdul Hadi tortured him.
Prosecutor Raja Naveed said that when the barriers were removed, two or three motorcycles broke the route and went ahead. When the local police arrived, these two lawyers retreated.
The judge told the prosecutor that he was reading the text of the case, and what is his request. On which the prosecutor said that these accused had provoked the public and it was necessary to make a video and voice match. The judge inquired whether the people who broke the route had been captured. The prosecutor replied that they were being identified.
Lawyer Attaullah Kundi took the position that cases come before you, you know better in which case the section of terrorism is applied. The lawyers of the accused said that Iman Mazari's clients appeared in the court but were in a hurry. Due to haste, the police hit Iman Mazari with barriers, whose medical is there and she has also applied for cross-veteran.
The lawyers of the accused said that the crime should be punished as much as it is a case of interference in the government.
Qaiser Imam, the lawyer of the accused, said that at first a slogan was raised that they were doing terrorism. The person with whom the fight took place was in plain clothes.
Lawyer Qaiser took the stand that now they were giving importance to plain-clothed people and imposing terrorism provisions on the lawyers, which is a crime, why are you asking for a 30-day remand?
The prosecutor argued that they had to investigate, they were state guests, and their security was their responsibility. The Sri Lankan team was attacked, the players were injured and police personnel were martyred. Traffic updates are shared, it was already informed that they were state guests.
Lawyer Qaiser Imam took the position that the English team has come, it is sad that this has reached them too. They must have felt sad that the whole city was jammed because of them.
The lawyer continued to say that the police also posted a video on the social media account. What should be investigated now, the plaintiff is saying, we are also saying the same, they did it, but what crime has been committed?
The prosecutor argued that the video that has been played has to be forensically conducted, and a photo-grammatical test is also to be conducted.
The ATC reserved its decision on the physical remand of Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali.
Later, the court gave a reserved verdict and granted the three-day physical remand of Iman and her husband and handed over them to the police.
It is pertinent to note that yesterday the Abpara Police of the federal capital Islamabad arrested the well-known lawyer and social activist Iman Mazari along with her husband on the charge of interfering in the state matters.
A few days ago, a video of Iman Mazari and her husband went viral on social media in which they were seen retaliating with the traffic policemen for blocking the roads for the England team on their tour to Pakistan.
The third match of the Test series between Pakistan and England was played in Rawalpindi and certain routes were closed for a while for the team to reach the stadium and back to the hotel.
On Friday also, on the occasion of the departure of the English team to the stadium, the roads were closed at the Zero Point Interchange in Islamabad, and on the same occasion, Iman Mazari and her husband had a bitter conversation with the traffic policemen and they were also seen removing the obstacles.
In a statement after the incident, the Islamabad Police said that the couple violated the SOPs for the security of government guests and registered a case against them for interfering with the government and creating chaos in the security of government guests.