ISLAMABAD: Shortly after her release on bail, Islamabad police re-arre­sted lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir from outside Adiala Jail on Monday in connection with a case registered a day earlier on terrorism charges.

Ms Mazari-Hazir was granted bail by an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Monday alongside former South Waziristan MNA Ali Wazir against surety bonds of Rs30,000 each.

Earlier, a judicial magistrate had granted the lawyer post-arrest bail on August 22 in connection with the case registered at Tarnol Police Station, but she had not been released at the time as she was facing another case registered at CTD police station.

Activists and police sources claimed that the fresh case, registered at Bhara Kahu on Sunday, was an attempt to keep both her and Mr Wazir in custody, as authorities anticipated that they would be able to obtain bail from the courts.

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 Ms Mazari-Hazir, Ali 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 Mr 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 Ms Mazari-Hazir on different occasions.

Ms Mazari-Hazir 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.

Sources in the police believed Mr Wazir, too, would be arrested in connection with the fresh FIR.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2023