ATC approves plea seeking relief for PTM leader, rights lawyer; rejects prosecution’s request for remand extension
ISLAMABAD:
Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader and former lawmaker Ali Wazir and human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir were granted bail on Monday by an Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC).
On Aug 19, two first information reports (FIR) were registered against Imaan and Wazir, at the Tarnol police station and the Counter-Terrorism Department police station, following a rally of the PTM in the federal capital. Both were booked on charges of sedition, preventing government officials from carrying out their duties and damaging public property.
Subsequently, the two had been sent on 14-day judicial remand in a sedition case related to the controversial speech against the state institutions.
Imaan Mazari had earlier secured bail in the second case – related to damaging government property and interfering in the affairs of the state during a protest that was held on August 18 – as well after a local judge accepted her application.
However, the judicial magistrate remanded former lawmaker Ali Wazir.
During the proceedings of the sedition case today, prosecutor requested ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain to grant an extension in the accused’s remand.
The transcript of Imaan’s speech at the rally was also read out during the hearing.
Opposing the request for bail, the prosecutor further argued that the report of the USB was still awaited and the forensics of the event still had to be done.
However, the court accepted both the lawyer as well as PTM leader’s bail in exchange of Rs30,000 each.
