Court remands Imaan Mazari, Ali Wazir into police custody

Islamabad: An Islamabad court on Sunday allowed physical remand of human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and former Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Ali Wazir.

Both Imaan Mazari and Ali Wazir were apprehended separately by Islamabad police during the early hours of Sunday. They were charged with involvement in state affairs beyond their mandate, and both individuals were subsequently booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

During a hearing presided by Duty Judicial Magistrate Ehtisham Alam Khan, the police requested physical custody of Imaan Mazari and Ali Wazir.

The court granted one-day police custody for Imaan Mazari and two days for Ali Wazir.

Concurrently, Imaan's legal representative submitted a plea for the return of her confiscated mobile phone and personal belongings. In response, the court instructed the Station House Officer (SHO) of Tarnol Police to provide a report regarding the confiscated items.

In relation to the ongoing case, the court ordered that Ali Wazir be held in police custody for one day, while Imaan Mazari would remain in the custody of the women's police station. The court directed the police to present Imaan Mazari before an anti-terrorism court on the subsequent day, where the decision regarding her physical remand in the terrorism case would be determined.

Addressing the matter on social media, the Islamabad Police stated, "Both the accused were requested by the Islamabad Police for investigation, and all actions will be carried out within the confines of the law."

Shireen Mazari, Imaan's mother and a former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, addressed reporters at the Islamabad district court. She recounted that individuals in plainclothes had confined their security guard to the guardroom before forcibly entering their residence.

Shireen Mazari further disclosed that approximately 20 individuals were involved in the operation, conducting a search in her room and confiscating her mobile phone. Expressing concerns about the forced entry and the seizure of her belongings, she questioned the necessity for such actions.