Ali Wazir and Imaan Mazari are placed on three-day physical remand by ATC.

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad sentenced former legislator Ali Wazir and human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari to three days in prison on Monday for their participation in a rally organized by the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) last week.

When Imaan Mazari, the daughter of former federal minister Shireen Mazari, and Ali Wazir, a former member of the national parliament, were brought before Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain today, the judge ordered that the accused be brought before him again on August 24.

Imaan Mazari’s lawyer, advocate Zainab Janjua, claimed that despite the fact that a local court remanded her client yesterday, “no investigation has been conducted.” She also stated that Mazari’s phone and laptop had already been taken, and that two charges had been filed in connection with a single event.
Notably, the two accused were remanded in police custody on Sunday, just hours after being arrested in the federal capital on a variety of allegations.

Wazir and Mazari were among hundreds of persons arrested on Friday under different sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for participating in a Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) event that attempted to “interfere in state affairs,” according to a First Information Report (FIR) published on social media.

Later, during their court appearance yesterday, the prosecution gave the judge a second FIR filed by Islamabad’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) against Wazir and Mazari, which contained claims of sedition and terrorism.
Notably, the two accused were remanded in police custody on Sunday, just hours after being arrested in the federal capital on a variety of allegations.

Wazir and Mazari were among hundreds of persons arrested on Friday under different sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for participating in a Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) event that attempted to “interfere in state affairs,” according to a First Information Report (FIR) published on social media.

Later, during their court appearance yesterday, the prosecution gave the judge a second FIR filed by Islamabad’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) against Wazir and Mazari, which contained claims of sedition and terrorism.
Notably, the two accused were remanded in police custody on Sunday, just hours after being arrested in the federal capital on a variety of allegations.

Wazir and Mazari were among hundreds of persons arrested on Friday under different sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for participating in a Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) event that attempted to “interfere in state affairs,” according to a First Information Report (FIR) published on social media.

Later, during their court appearance yesterday, the prosecution gave the judge a second FIR filed by Islamabad’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) against Wazir and Mazari, which contained claims of sedition and terrorism.
He asked the court to allow the remand motion since the investigation was still underway and various tests, including photogrammetry and voice matching, needed to be performed.

Mazari’s lawyer objected to the prosecution’s request, claiming that the police already had her client’s mobile and laptop devices, as well as the transcript of her speech.”What do they want to achieve by keeping them in custody?” she said, emphasizing that despite having the accused in custody for 24 hours, the police had failed to advance with their investigation.

Janjua objected to the prosecution’s other case, claiming that it had been rejected by the Islamabad High Court.
The police maintained their plea for Mazari’s physical remand for ten days. The ATC reserved its decision after hearing all of the arguments.

Meanwhile, Ali Wazir rose to the rostrum and informed the court that the caretaker administration had instructed the PTM leadership not to stage a sit-in in front of the Supreme Court.

“We were told that we should hold a rally, but that we should hold the rally in Tarnol, so we went and held a meeting there,” he explained. “As soon as the meeting was over, the interior minister tweeted, thanked us, and even called me.”

The judge voiced his dissatisfaction with the situation. “It’s such a beautiful country; if this is where we’re going, where are we going?” He made a comment.
Later, the court authorized Iman Mazari and Ali Wazir’s three-day physical remand and ordered them to appear before the ATC on August 24.