ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday granted pre-arrest bail to rights activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir after a representative of the General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi’s judge advocate general (JAG) branch got a case registered against her.

According to the order passed by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, Ms Mazari approached the court seeking pre-arrest bail in the case. Her counsel contended that the petitioner apprehends arrest in the case.

“It is further contended that the FIR was registered by the complainant malafidely and merely to humiliate the petitioner. In the circumstances, the petitioner is admitted to ad-interim pre-arrest bail subject to the furnishing of surety in the sum of Rs1,000 with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the deputy registrar (judicial) of the court,” the court order said, adding that the petitioner will be at liberty to deposit the cash surety as per policy of the court.

Ms Mazari-Hazir was directed to join the investigation and appear before the court on each date fixed.

FIR registered against rights activist for making derogatory statement against army, its senior leadership

The case was registered with Ramna police station under section 138 (abetment of act of insubordination by soldier, sailor or airman) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) in response to a complaint lodged by Lt Col Syed Humayun Iftikhar on behalf of the JAG.

The FIR stated that Ms Mazari-Hazir made a derogatory statement on May 21, 2022, against the army and its senior leadership on the premises of the IHC when her mother, former human rights minister Shireen Mazari, was arrested from outside her residence.

“The lady abused the senior military leadership of Pakistan Army and her derogatory statements are highly disparaging aimed to cause and incite mutiny/intimidation amongst ranks and file of Pakistan Army. It also leads to ridicule and create hatred within the army which made out a serious offence,” it said.

There are reasons to believe that such an act will harm the reputation of the army and its senior leadership. The statements of Ms Mazari are clearly reflective of her intent to cause a fear and alarm to the public thus inducing to commit offence against the state. It is imperative that strict legal action be taken against her under relevant laws, it said.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2022