An Islamabad court has granted post-arrest bail to human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, while former lawmaker Ali Wazir has been sent on a 14-day judicial remand in a case related to rioting and unlawful assembly. Wazir, a member of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), was arrested on Saturday, while Imaan was taken into custody in the early hours of Sunday. Two first information reports (FIRs) were filed against them at the Tarnol police station and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station in Islamabad.
The arrests were made two days after a public meeting organized by the PTM, during which both Wazir and Imaan delivered speeches criticizing the military establishment’s involvement in enforced disappearances. Videos of these speeches circulated on social media, leading to the filing of FIRs against them.
An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad had previously granted a three-day physical remand for both Wazir and Imaan in a terrorism case filed against them at the CTD police station. Today, Wazir was presented in court after the completion of his two-day physical remand, while Imaan remains in police custody on a three-day physical remand in the terrorism case.
During the hearing, the police requested further physical remand of Wazir, which was rejected by the court. Wazir’s lawyer argued that no recovery has been made during the investigation, and he has no connection with the rally participants. The court reserved its verdict on Wazir’s case. On the other hand, the lawyers of Imaan requested post-arrest bail for her. The court accepted their request for surety bonds worth Rs30,000 and announced her post-arrest bail. In Wazir’s case, the court rejected the police’s request for physical remand and sent him to jail on a 14-day judicial remand.
The case that was heard today is related to one of the two FIRs filed against Wazir and Imaan. The FIR includes charges of rioting armed with deadly weapons, unlawful assembly, obstructing public servants, disobedience to orders, assault, criminal force, and criminal intimidation.
The first FIR was filed by the Tarnol Station House Officer (SHO), stating that during the PTM rally, participants armed with sticks confronted officials and blocked the Grand Trunk Road, causing disruptions and damage to public property.
The court’s verdict was delivered by accepting Imaan’s post-arrest bail plea and sending Wazir to jail on a 14-day judicial remand. The case will continue to be heard as investigations progress.