LAHORE: Quetta-based lawyer and human rights’ activist Jalila Haider who was travelling to the UK was detained by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at Lahore airport on Monday morning for about seven hours.

“I was told that my name was on the Exit Control List (ECL). Later they told me some ‘others’ were coming with documents on me and that I must wait for them,” she said.

“All I was told was that I had been involved in some anti-state activities. I was made to wait for seven hours before I was given back my CNIC and passport with a permission that I could take next flight to Sussex. I have never been more humiliated in my life.”Ms Haider, who was to attend a women’s coalition conference in Sussex, was visibly distressed while speaking to Dawn.

She said she would decide what to do next after taking her family’s and her counsels’ advice.

Ms Haider is the only woman lawyer from the Hazara community of Balochistan, and is the provincial president of the Women’s Democratic Front (WDF). She received

media spotlight when she went on a hunger strike in 2018, demanding protection for the Hazara community. In 2019, she featured on a BBC list of 100 inspiring and influential women for her work defending women’s rights in Pakistan.

In March 2019, a cabinet committee had decided to impose a travel ban on her, possibly for her activism in a civil rights’ movement, however the reason for the ban was not confirmed even then.

“I have no idea which anti state activities I am involved in,” she said. “I only speak for human rights and women’s issues. Are these anti-state issues?” she asked.

She took to social media to post about her ordeal but the post was taken off latter.

LEGAL COUNSEL: Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Abid Saqi said that the act of detaining Ms Haider was ‘condemnable’.

“It is a violation of Article 15 (Freedom of Movement), which is a citizen’s basic right, and I along with other lawyers will deliberate on this,” he said. He added that since the incident occurred at the Lahore Airport, the case would fall under the jurisdiction of the Lahore High Court.

Mr Saqi said that one behalf of the entire lawyers’ community, they wanted to highlight that no state agency had any right to violate any constitutional law. Jalila Haider’s other counsel advocate Asad Jamal said that the most atrocious act was that during these seven hours, Jalila had not been allowed to have access to anyone outside, including a lawyer.

“It’s a violation of both Articles 10 and 15,” he said.

SUPPORT: While Ms Haider was under detention, several supporters rushed to the airport to rally in her defense.

Apart from members of the Women’s Democratic Front (WDF), some members of the of the Progressive Students’ Collective (PSC) also chanted slogans.

“At first we were stopped by the airport officials, but later some people in plain clothes came and started taking pictures of us. In the end, we did not shout, but stood with placards so that people at the departure lounge could see,” said Haider Butt. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s Chairperson Dr Mehdi Hasan also condemned the act.

The FIA did not make any official statements on the matter.

An FIA official on condition of anonymity said that Jalila Haider had been on the Watch List for some time. She recorded her statement, denying any involvement in any anti-state activities, after which she was allowed to leave.

Ms Haider was told that she should approach the Interior Ministry to get her name removed from its Watch List.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2020