The Islamabad High Court has issued an order for the arrest of Advocate Iman Mazari, stipulating that he should not be removed from the Islamabad jurisdiction.
This directive came about during a court hearing in response to a request made by Advocate Iman Mazari to receive information about the cases lodged against him. Dr. Shireen Mazari was also present in court during the proceedings.
Representing Shireen Mazari, lawyers Salman Akram Raja and Qaiser Imam presented arguments before Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb. They stated that they initially didn’t find it necessary to file such an application, but due to the prevailing circumstances, the need arose. Two applications have been filed against Iman Mazari, charging him with terrorism and sedition offenses. He was apprehended in two instances, subsequently released on bail. However, he was arrested once again, this time outside Adiala Jail in connection with a third case.
Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb remarked that the nation is undergoing a challenging period. During this court appearance, he advised Iman Mazari to control the language used. Iman Mazari assured compliance but later failed to maintain this restraint. The year 2023 has been characterized by notable challenges in upholding constitutional and judicial matters.
The legal representatives conveyed to the court that if a crime has indeed been committed, it should be dealt with according to the law. They contended that the case against them was driven by malicious intent. They requested clarity on the number of cases registered against Iman Mazari and urged that he be safeguarded from arrest in any other jurisdiction. Given the exceptional circumstances, it was stressed that Iman Mazari should not be taken outside Islamabad.
The court inquired about the total number of cases involving Advocate Iman Mazari across the country. Subsequently, the court instructed the interior secretary to gather reports from the provinces by the following day. Until the next hearing, the Islamabad High Court ruled that Iman Mazari should not be arrested or taken outside the Islamabad jurisdiction. Additionally, a directive was issued that if any incident concerning Iman Mazari occurs after August 20, he should not be arrested. The case was adjourned for further hearing to the next day.