IHC mandates advance notice before Imaan Maazari’s arrest in any case
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a directive mandating authorities to inform the court in advance of any intended arrest of human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir in any case.
Imaan and former lawmaker Ali Wazir were apprehended earlier this month following the registration of two First Information Reports (FIRs) against them at Islamabad’s Tarnol police station and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station.
These arrests occurred two days after a public meeting organized by the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), during which both Wazir, a PTM member, and Imaan delivered speeches critical of the military establishment’s actions related to enforced disappearances.
While Imaan secured bail in the sedition case on August 28, she was swiftly re-arrested by Islamabad police hours later in connection with a newly filed terrorism case. Subsequently, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted her a three-day physical remand in the same case.
On August 30, the IHC barred the police from arresting Imaan in any cases registered after August 20, her initial arrest date.
On September 2, Imaan was granted post-arrest bail in the terrorism case, posting surety bonds worth Rs10,000, and was subsequently released.
Today, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the IHC heard Imaan’s plea requesting information about the FIRs filed against her and protective bail, filed last week.
During the hearing, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Munawar Iqbal Dogal informed the court that he had contacted the provinces seeking details of the cases against Imaan, and had communicated the same via fax and WhatsApp after the previous hearing.
In response to Imaan’s statements made during the PTM rally, the AAG stated, “The petitioner should not make such statements.”
Justice Aurangzeb concluded, “We are disposing of the case. If there is any [new] FIR, then you will inform the court.”
The Petition: In her plea filed last week, Imaan had requested “protective omnibus bail” to allow her to approach the relevant court for “bail before arrest and take part in the investigation.” The plea named the state, the Islamabad inspector general, city senior superintendent of police, Adiala Jail superintendent, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as respondents in the case.
