Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared the arrests of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Shireen Mazari and Senator Falak Naz as ‘unlawful’ on Tuesday, ordering their immediate release.
During an early morning operation, Shireen Mazari was taken into custody at her Islamabad residence under section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
Following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Al Qadir Trust case, a string of detentions of various PTI leaders ensued, including Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Ali Mohammad Khan, and Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, due to the three-day turmoil witnessed across several cities in the country.
Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb of the IHC presided over the plea filed by PTI leaders’ councils.
During the court proceedings, the legal representative of Mazari contended that she did not participate in any protest and was absent from the court when Mr. Khan was apprehended. The arrest was considered unlawful, constituting a violation of the legal framework.
After considering the arguments, Justice Aurangzeb deemed Shireen’s arrest unlawful and ordered her immediate release.
Furthermore, Justice Gul Hasan Aurangzeb also addressed the plea concerning the arrest of Senator Falak Naz and, upon concluding the arguments, ordered her immediate release as well.
The judge nullified the arrest of the PTI leader under section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a directive for the immediate liberation of Shireen Mazari, a PTI leader, invalidating her apprehension under the 3MPO.
The court also ordered the release of PTI Senator Falak Naz.
Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb of the IHC heard the petition against Shireen Mazari’s arrest, with Mazari’s daughter Advocate Iman Mazari approaching the court regarding the matter.
Presenting the case on behalf of the petitioner, Advocate Zainab Janjua contended that the district magistrate had authorized Shireen Mazari’s arrest as a precautionary measure to maintain peace. However, it was emphasized that Ms. Mazari had been in her residence since May 9 and had not made any public statements that could incite the workers.
The counsel further asserted that the presence of Shireen Mazari at home during that time could be verified through CCTV footage and call detail records (CDR).
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When asked about Shireen Mazari’s age, the lawyer representing her informed the court that she is 72 years old and has preexisting health conditions.
Subsequently, the court invalidated the arrest of Shireen Mazari under the 3MPO and ordered her immediate release.
In another plea, the IHC also directed the release of PTI Senator Falak Naz.