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Islamabad ATC grants police 3-day physical remand of Imaan Mazari

Published

1 month ago

August 29, 2023

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Tuesday handed over lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir to police on three-day physical remand.

A day earlier, Imaan and former lawmaker Ali Wazir — who have both been facing cases due to a recent rally held by the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) in Islamabad — had been granted bail in a sedition case.

However, hours later, she was re-arrested by Islamabad police in connection with a case registered on terrorism charges at the Bhara Kahu police station on Sunday.

The fresh FIR has been sealed, but according to a copy seen by Dawn, the case was registered under Section 11-N of the Anti-Terrorism Act, as well as sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Section 11-N of the ATA deals with punishment under sections 11-H to 11-K, which include charges of fund-raising, use and possession, funding arrangements and money laundering for the purpose of terrorism.

The case was registered on Sunday at 1:15am in response to a complaint lodged by one Shahzad, resident of Nai Abadi Bhara Kahu, against Imaan, Wazir, and others, they added.

Sources quoted the FIR as mentioning that a man, Kamran Khan, met Shahzad in the area of Bhara Kahu on August 8 and introduced himself as human rights activist. He also told the complainant about human rights issues in his area, expressed his intention to work with him to improve the situation and sought his assistance to achieve it, according to the report.

The complainant claimed he gave some amount to Khan who then also arranged his meetings with Ali Wazir, Wasiullah Khan, Noorzada, Badshah Khan, Ovais Khan, Fidaullah, Shah Faisal, Jamal Shah, Irfan Majnoon, Liaquat Ali Yousafzai, Khairullah Aman, Bakht Zada, Mursalin Saeedi, Mohammad Usman, Mohammad Ali, Fayad, Mehran, Taj Nawab Khatak, Sabir Bilal, Pir Jabir, Shams Safi, Adil Khan Safi, Ijaz Khan Safi, Ijaz Khushhal, Gul Pasand and Imaan on different occasions.

Imaan was introduced as their focal person who looked after their affairs in Islamabad, the FIR stated. The complainant stated he was asked not only to remain in contact with her as she would inform him about the future programmes, but also to collect money and give it to her or any other person who they know. All of them wanted to hold a rally on the pretext of human rights and other grounds against the government institutions including armed forces to incite the youth, the complainant stated, adding that their motive was building and strengthening an anti-state narrative to defame Pakistan.

Various people gave donations, in cash and through Easy Paisa, mobile apps and bank transfers. The suspects encouraged youngsters to collect maximum donations to avenge the state institutions, including armed forces, by describing them as their enemy, the FIR stated. However, the complainant said he separated himself from them, with the result that they started threatening him with dire consequences. They also held gatherings at Tarnol and Constitution Avenue from the amount collected as donation in which they attempted to incite people against the state institutions, including armed forces, with the motive of spreading terrorism on political and regional basis, according to the FIR.

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Earlier today, Imaan was produced before Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain. Prosecutor Raja Naveed and Imaan’s legal team were both present for the hearing.

At the outset of the hearing, the FIR against Imaan was read out loud. The prosecutor then contended that Imaan had been accused of collecting money for anti-state activities.

He called on the court to grant police Imaan’s physical remand for an investigation. “The money [in question] has to be recovered from the suspect,” Naveed said, adding that investigators also needed to nab the other suspects in the case.

On the other hand, Imaan’s lawyer, Zainab Janjua, said that the case was registered on August 26. “Imaan Mazari was in jail on August 26 and her bail petition was to be heard,” she pointed out.

Janjua also said that when Imaan was released from Adiala Jail on Monday, Bhara Kahu police were already present outside the premises.

She further said that the government had granted the PTM a no-objection certificate (NOC) for holding the rally. “Multiple cases can’t be registered for the same incident,” she argued.

She said that if Imaan was discharged in the case today, she would be arrested in another. “Imaan Mazari is not a member of the PTM,” she contended.

The lawyer said Imaan was willing to hand over her bank statement, pointing out that her mobile phone and laptop had already been seized by police. “Why is Imaan Mazari’s physical remand required?” Janjua asked.

She said that Imaan had neither met the person on whose complaint the case was registered nor taken any money from him. Janjua called on the court to discharge her client from the case.

However, the prosecutor then stated that the issuance of a NOC did not mean that one starts raising “anti-state” slogans. He said that officials would “collect evidence” after gaining physical remand of the suspect.

But Janjua then interjected and said that Imaan was cooperating in the case and there was no need for her physical remand. “Courts are being used to settle scores. The courts should also look into this,” she said.

Subsequently, the court reserved its verdict. It later granted police three-day physical remand of Imaan.

arrested earlier this month and a pair of first information reports (FIR) were registered against them at Islamabad’s Tarnol police station and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station.

The arrests were made two days after a public meeting, organised by the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM). Wazir, a PTM member, and Imaan had both addressed the rally, with videos circulating on social media showing speakers criticising the military establishment over enforced disappearances.

The first FIR was registered on the complaint of Tarnol Station House Officer (SHO) Mian Mohammad Imran under Sections 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 395 (punishment for dacoity), 440 (mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt) and 506ii (criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The FIR said that the complainant was present with other police officers at Tarnol Phatak Chowk to maintain peace and calm during a rally of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM). It said that the rally led by PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen, including Wazir and Imaan, began moving from the spot allocated to it in violation of its no-objection certificate.

The SHO said when the police officers attempted to stop the rally from moving towards Islamabad, the rally’s 700-800 participants armed with sticks confronted the officials. He said that upon being stopped after attempting to move towards Islamabad again, the crowd blocked both lanes of Grand Trunk (GT) Road by placing containers and staged a demonstration while traffic was completely blocked.

SHO Imran said when the PTM leadership and supporters were asked to open GT Road for traffic, the rally participants attacked the police while issuing threats of dire consequences, broke mirrors of official vehicles, forcefully shut down shops and a petrol pump and snatched anti-riot kits from the police.

The second FIR was registered on the complaint of Inspector Mohammad Ashraf under PPC Sections 124A (sedition), 148, 149, 153 (inciting to riot), 153A (promotion of enmity between groups) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) as well as Sections 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) and 11 (power to order forfeiture) of the Anti-Terrorism Act read with Section 21i.

The inclusion of 124A (sedition) in the FIR remains a source of confusion as the Lahore High Court (LHC) had in March [invalidated][5] the section, which pertains to the crime of sedition or inciting “disaffection” against the government, terming it inconsistent with the Constitution.

The inspector said he was present at Tarnol when a PTM rally of around 900-950 people blocked GT Road. He said Pashteen, Imaan and others had spoken against state institutions and their heads in their speeches, attempted to incite rebellion, weaken the army, compel officers to abandon their duties, promote terrorism warned of dire consequences for the judiciary and called on people to engage in civil war and strife.

The FIR specifically pointed out Pashteen and Imaan for attempting to create distance between Pakhtuns and the army and spreading fear in the public by threatening to march towards Islamabad.

On August 22, an Islamabad court had granted Imaan post-arrest bail in a rioting and dacoity case. However, she remained in police custody in connection with the sedition case.

Meanwhile, an Islamabad ATC on August 24 had [rejected][4] the prosecution’s request to extend Imaan and Wazir’s physical remand in the sedition case and sent the two to Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on judicial remand.

On Monday, the pair was granted bail in the sedition case, following which Imaan was arrested in the fresh case registered at the Bhara Kahu police station.

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News

Annual inflation rises to 31.4pc amid high energy prices

Published

14 mins ago

October 2, 2023

callumbryne

Pakistan’s annual inflation rate rose to 31.4 per cent in September from 27.4pc in August, statistics bureau data showed on Monday, as the country reels from high fuel and energy prices.

The country is embarking on a tricky path to economic recovery under a caretaker government after a $3 billion loan programme approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July averted a sovereign debt default, but with conditions that complicated efforts to rein in inflation.

On a month-on-month basis, inflation climbed 2pc in September, compared to an increase of 1.7pc in August. Reforms required by the IMF bailout, including an easing of import restrictions and a demand that subsidies be removed, have already fuelled annual inflation, which rose to a record 38pc in May.

Food inflation remained elevated at 33.1pc with the year-on-year increase in non-perishable food items at 38.4pc and 4.37pc for perishable food items.

Annual consumer inflation in urban and rural areas increased to 29.7pc and 33.9pc year-on-year, respectively.

Meanwhile, the highest year-on-year increase was recorded in the categories of alcoholic beverages and tobacco (87.45pc), recreation and culture (58.77pc), furnishing and household equipment maintenance (39.32pc) and non-perishable food items.

Index-wise increase in inflation YoY (in descending order)

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco: 87.45pc
Recreation and culture: 58.77pc
Furnishing and household equipment maintenance: 39.32pc
Non-perishable food items: 38.41pc
Miscellaneous goods and services: 36.42pc
Restaurants and hotels: 34.3pc
Transport: 31.26pc
Housing and utilities: 29.7pc
Health: 25.28pc
Clothing and footwear: 20.55pc
Education: 11.12pc
Communication: 7.42pc
Perishable food items: 4.37pc

Interest rates have also risen to their highest at 22pc, and the rupee hit all-time lows in August before recovering in September to become the best performing currency following a clampdown by authorities on unregulated FX trade.

On Friday, the ministry of finance said in its monthly report that it anticipated inflation remaining high in the coming month, hovering around 29-31pc due to an upward adjustment in energy tariffs and a major increase in fuel prices.

The report added that inflation was, however, expected to ease, especially from the second half of the current fiscal year that starts on Jan 1.

On Saturday, the government cut petrol and diesel prices from a record high, after two consecutive hikes. The finance ministry cited international prices of petroleum products and the improvement in the exchange rate, following the clampdown on unregulated FX trade.

Inflation has been elevated, hovering in double digits, since November 2021.
The country targeted inflation at 21pc for the current fiscal year, but it averaged 29pc during the first quarter.

Worsening economic conditions, along with rising political tensions in the run-up to a national election scheduled for November, triggered sporadic protests in September, with many Pakistanis saying they are struggling to make ends meet.

Analysts said the inflation reading was in line with market expectations.

Tahir Abbas, head of research at Arif Habib Limited, a Karachi-based investment company, said inflation appeared to have peaked for the current fiscal year and would subsequently recede.

“The higher reading is mainly due to the low base effect which was also mentioned in the last monetary policy statement. Going forward, in the next few months, we expect inflation to ease to around 26-27pc,” said Fahad Rauf, head of research at Ismail Iqbal Securities, a Karachi-based brokerage firm.

Rauf said higher inflation statistics should not impact monetary policy.

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News

Police ramp up Adiala jail security for Imran

Published

24 mins ago

October 2, 2023

callumbryne

RAWALPINDI: In light of recommendations by the Special Branch and relevant departments following a survey of Adiala Jail where former prime minister Imran Khan is incarcerated, the police have ramped up security in the vicinity of the jail by deploying elite commandos and setting up additional security pickets to ensure foolproof measures.

After the survey, the officials concerned recommended an increase in security and search operations targeting shops located in front of the jail and residential areas in the surroundings of the central prison.

Sources said police pickets were established on Adiala Road and on both sides of the jail premises to ensure foolproof security, whereas two contingents of Elite Force would also patrol the area around the jail in two shifts. The officials also recommended keeping a record of CNICs and other details of the visitors.

The SSP operations and the chief traffic officer accompanied by other senior police officials visited the jail and held a meeting with the superintendent to take stock of security measures.

During the meeting, it was decided that the jail administration would ensure the security of the premises, while the police would be responsible for the security outside the jail.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan was shifted to Central Jail Adiala from District Jail Attock following the orders of the Islamabad High Court on September 26 amid tight security.

The high court had made this decision while hearing a plea moved by the PTI chief seeking transfer from Attock Jail to Adiala.

The former prime minister was shifted to Attock jail on August 5, 2023, after a court sentenced him to three years in prison in the Toshakhana case for concealing details of gifts he received as the prime minister of Pakistan.

After his sentence in the Toshakhana case was suspended by the high court, the government detained the ex-premier in the cipher case.

The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document which reportedly went missing from Imran’s possession. The PTI alleged that it contained a threat from the United States to oust Imran Khan from power.

In the same case, a special court had sent the PTI chairman on judicial remand till Oct 10. It may be noted that an IHC bench is also hearing a plea moved by the PTI chairman seeking post-arrest bail in the cipher case.

Last month, the court had rejected a request by the Federal Investigation Agency seeking in-camera proceedings of the bail plea filed by Mr Khan. Proceedings against former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the same case are also underway.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2023

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News

PSX gains more than 390 points over reduced fuel prices, strengthening PKR

Published

35 mins ago

October 2, 2023

callumbryne

The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index gained over 394 points during trade on Monday, which analysts attributed to what seemed like an improved outlook in the economy.

The optimism in the market came as the government announced a reduction in fuel prices, slashing the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel by Rs8 per litre and Rs11 per litre, respectively, for the next fortnight.

It also follows a weeks-long rally of the Pakistani rupee. It appreciated by Rs0.98 to reach 286.76 against the dollar by day’s end, according to the State Bank of Pakistan.

The index reached 46,627.08, up 0.85pc, when the trading closed. It had reached a high of 46,704.63 points at 11:15am, 472.04 points from the previous close of 46,232.59 points.

—Photo courtesy: PSX’s website

Major activity was reported in stocks such as WorldCall Telecom Limited, Cnergyico PK Limited, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, Pakistan Petroleum Limited, First Prudential Modaraba and BankIslami Pakistan Limited.

The top advancers included First Punjab Modaraba, Pak-Gulf Leasing Company Limited, Hala Enterprises Limited, and First Prudential Modaraba.

The top losers included PICIC Insurance Limited, SME Leasing Limited, Ashfaq Textile Mills Limited and Habib Insurance Company Limited.

Raza Jafri, head of equity Intermarket Securities, said: “The KSE-100 is reacting positively as it becomes clear that there will be a continued focus on the economy from all key stakeholders. The CPI [consumer price index] print for September, due later today, will be interesting to monitor as it is possible the market chooses to ignore a likely high reading in favour of an improving outlook.”

Syed Faran Rizvi, head of equity sales at JS Global Capital, said: “The equity market’s positive momentum has been sustained due to reduced POL product costs and the strengthening of the PKR.”

He added: “Looking ahead, investor sentiment will likely hinge on the IMF review and actions taken in the energy sector.”

IMF review meetings this month for the next tranche release and an “upbeat growth outlook”.

He added: “Upbeat data on crop output, cotton production, power generation, fertiliser, autos, POL and cement sales in September ’23, the rupee recovery and government deliberations on privatisation of SOEs [state-owned enterprises] played a catalyst role in the bullish activity.”

More to follow

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