In a significant development, the Islamabad High Court has declared the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shirin Mazari under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) as unlawful. The court bench, presided over by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, deemed the district magistrate’s detention order void and ordered the immediate release of former federal minister Shirin Mazari.
The arrest of Shirin Mazari was challenged in court by her daughter, Iman Mazari, with legal representation from Zainab Janjua Advocate. The lawyer argued that Mazari had been accused of inciting party workers, leading to the issuance of her arrest order. However, it was pointed out that Mazari had been at home since May 9 and had not made any public statements during that time. The counsel further suggested that her presence at home could be verified through CCTV footage and call detail records (CDR).
To ensure transparency, the court directed the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Islamabad to present the case record within one hour. After the break in the proceedings, the bench ordered the immediate release of Shirin Mazari, highlighting the flaws in the detention process.
Shirin Mazari, who serves as PTI’s senior vice president, was arrested by the police in the early hours of last Friday as part of a crackdown against PTI’s senior leadership and workers following violent protests. The police conducted a raid at Mazari’s residence located in the E/7 area of the federal capital and subsequently took her into custody. She was later transferred to the Abpara police station.
Iman Mazari, expressing her concern, took to Twitter and claimed that approximately 50 policemen had raided their house and arrested her mother. The arrest had raised questions about the circumstances surrounding it and its legality, leading to the subsequent legal challenge.
In another case, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb also ordered the immediate release of Senator Falak Naz after considering the arguments presented.
The Islamabad High Court’s decision to acquit Shireen Mazari and declare her arrest under the MPO void is a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings. The judgment emphasizes the importance of upholding due process and ensuring that arrests are made based on valid grounds and evidence. This decision serves as a reminder of the judiciary’s commitment to safeguarding individual rights and preventing the misuse of power.