IHC orders govt to release PTI leader Shireen Mazari, form judicial commission over arrest

IHC orders govt to release PTI leader Shireen Mazari, form judicial commission over arrest

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Islamabad High Court on Saturday ordered the government to immediately release former federal minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shireen Mazari and form a judicial commission to probe into her arrest.

Former federal minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shireen Mazari, who was taken into custody by a team of the Anti-Corruption Establishment and Police in a joint operation in the Federal Capital took former federal minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shireen Mazari, was produced before the court. 

Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the case in the Islamabad High Court. Additional Secretary Home, IG Islamabad, Advocate General and DC Islamabad were present during the hearing.

Former Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry, Farrukh Habib, Qasim Suri and Zulfi Bukhari also reached the high court on behalf of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) while the court room was filled with PTI leaders and workers.

During the proceeding, while giving his remarks during Justice Athar Minnallah remarked that what happened to Shireen Mazari is unfortunate but there were worse incidents when she was in government and no action had been taken on enforced disappearances and such incidents will happen when the constitution is not respected.

The IHC CJ observed that every government had a regrettable attitude towards constitutional violations, adding that a Member of the National Assembly is still in jail today. It is unfortunate that even during the previous regime, members of the assembly were arrested.

“Until an inquiry is complete, Shireen Mazari should be released.”

Mazari said that the police dragged her out of the car and there were people in plain clothes with the police, adding that she is 70 years old and sick. “The police are fully responsible for the violence," Mazari said and they were taking me to Lahore.

The PTI leader said that the whole nation has come out against the thieves, adding that she was not shown any warrant during the arrest. “I was tortured during the arrest and my nails were broken.”

Speaking before appearing in court, Mazari said that the police had dragged her out of the car. She said that PM Shehbaz Sharif and Rana Sanaullah were behind her arrest, adding that her cellphone has not been returned yet.

“I m fine, I felt the enforced disappearance myself today,” the former minister said, adding that she asked the police to call her daughter, but she was not allowed. “I will tell the court everything that happened to me,” she added.

Read More: Details of case against Shireen Mazari surface

Earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had ordered to produce Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shireen Mazari before the court after a petition was filed by her daughter Imaan Mazari against the arrest of PTI leader.

IHC ordered tjhe authorities concerned to produce the former minister produced court. Besides, IG, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad and Home Secretary were also summoned.

The court remarked that according to Imaan Mazari, her mother is still a member of the National Assembly. No MNA could be arrested without the permission of the Speaker of the National Assembly.

It may be recalled a team of the Anti-Corruption Establishment and Police in a joint operation in the Federal Capital on Saturday took former federal minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shireen Mazari in custody in alleged land grabbing case dating back to 1972, Dunya News reported on Saturday.

Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, in a tweet, said that he has received reports that Shireen Mazari has been arrested by Anti-corruption Punjab. Fawad further said that former Human Rights Minister was arrested from outside her residence.

My mother has been  kidnapped : Imaan Mazari 

Talking to media along side Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and PTI senior leader Shibli Faraz, Imaan Zainab Mazari while expressing much stress and worry for her mother said that my mother has been illegally and unconstitutionally kidnapped. She exclaimed that she won’t let go, if anything happened to her.

She further added that if the government will take such moves, I will be following them. My mother has been forcibly taken away.

Prior to to this, in a tweet she explained that the extent of her information is that the Male police officials have beaten her mother and taken her away. All she know is that the action has been taken by the Anti-Corruption Wing Lahore. 

— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) May 21, 2022

It’s not an arrest but kidnapping: Fawad Chaudhry

During a media talk, the Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry reacting strongly to the arrest of PTI senior leader Shireen Mazari said that if there is a declaration of war by the government then there is also a declaration of war by us.

He said that the PTI leader was tortured. Her clothes were torn and she was brutally taken away in a car. The Former Federal Minister exclaimed that it’s not an arrest but kidnapping.

Fawad Chaudhry expressing further concern stated that they no clue where Shireen Mazari has been taken away. He taking a strong stance on the matter said now if there is to be a fight, there must be a fight.

Along with being a leader of a big party, Shireen Mazari is also a teacher, he added.

Fawad Chaudhry said the PTI leader Shirin Mazari is respected in the world for her involvement in the education sector.