ATC orders three-day physical remand for former senator Mushtaq Ahmad in protest case

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) has handed over former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan and other suspects to police on a three-day physical remand in a case registered in connection with a protest. The police produced the former senator and another person named Daniyal before Duty Judge Rukhsanda Shaheen in the ATC. During the hearing, the prosecution requested a 30-day physical remand of the suspects, stating that the police needed to recover a vehicle and weapons allegedly connected with the case. After hearing the arguments, the court granted the police three-day physical remand of Mushtaq and the other suspects and directed that they be produced before the court again upon completion of the remand period. The first information report (FIR) was registered at Islamabad’s Shalimar Police Station on July 31, on the complaint of Sub-inspector Ghulam Murtaza. The FIR said Mushtaq and dozens of others had led a crowd of about 400-500 people and gathered in the capital’s F-10. It accused the former senator of making “incendiary” speeches on loudspeakers, forcing shops to shut down, and chanting slogans against “current government institutions”. According to the FIR, Mushtaq then led the protesters to Sambal Road with the intention of marching to the Main Jinnah Avenue Road and blocking roads. The FIR said the district administration told Mushtaq through a loudspeaker to end the gathering as it was being held without a no-objection certificate (NOC), but the former senator and others blocked a main road near Shalimar Plaza at around 7:10pm. It accused the protesters of vandalising a media DSNG vehicle and other private cars passing by, along with pelting stones and “attacking” police officials. It further claimed that some protesters snatched away anti-riot helmets from personnel and threatened them. Last Wednesday, Mushtaq’s Pakistan Rights Movement (PRM) alleged that he had been detained by Punjab police on July 28 from Kahuta Bazaar while he was returning from Azad Pattan Bridge after allegedly being denied entry into AJK. Senior police officers in Punjab had not responded to calls and messages at the time. Police officials in Rawalpindi approached by Dawn for comment spoke off the record and denied that Mushtaq was in their custody. Mushtaq’s X account said the next day that he had been released. Following this, he had announced a gathering on July 31 in Islamabad’s F-10 to “express condolences, solidarity with Kashmir and for peace and reconciliation”. Last week, activists in Lahore were detained while holding a peaceful demonstration outside the press club to show solidarity with the proscribed JAAC. Additional input by Mohammad Asghar

Former senator held protest after alleged detention over AJK unrest