PTI Senior Vice President and former Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari was recently rearrested from the Islamabad High Court, despite being granted bail.
The circumstances surrounding her arrest have sparked a widespread public backlash, particularly due to the disturbing revelations made by her daughter, Imaan Mazari, on Twitter.
Lawyer Imaan Mazari took to social media to share her mother’s harrowing experience at the police station. She stated that she heard her mother screaming and she herself was dragged and beaten by a male police officer. These allegations of police violence have further fueled public outrage.
Read more: Imaan Mazari exposes custodial torture by Islamabad Police
Political leaders, human rights activists, and journalists have condemned the treatment allegedly being meted out to the PTI leader. Furthermore, outrage also poured out over how Imaan Mazari was treated by the police when she went to the Secretariat Police Station to inquire about her mother.
Shireen Mazari’s terrible captivity conditions are a shameful reminder of what our morals have come down to. A PhD who has been associated with human rights & has been imparting knowledge at top defence institutions was treated worse than a convicted terrorist. To make it worse… https://t.co/4C6STspxSu
— Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) May 16, 2023
Listening to @ImaanZHazir and what #ShireenMazari is going through is horrific. Today speaking up is a crime. This is worse than martial law #ReleaseAllPoliticalPrisoners
— Sara Taseer (@sarataseer) May 17, 2023
Not acceptable. Women should not be dragged into politics no matter which side. Highly condemn this treatment and strongly urge authorities to release Shireen Mazari. https://t.co/C4EIVhn2MN
— Akhtar Mengal (@sakhtarmengal) May 16, 2023
It is distressing & alarming to see the courageous @ImaanZHazir running between the court & the police station in search of her ailing mother. The lawlessness that has long plagued #Balochistan has now come to #Islamabad & #Lahore. The authorities must handle political workers &… https://t.co/huxwcCpyFD
— Mama Qadeer Baloch (@QadeerMama) May 16, 2023
Arrest of Shireen Mazari & other female political workers is a blatant attempt to instill fear in society. The state has nothing to offer to citizens except intimidation, terror & violence. We are living under a gangster state that has no respect for people's rights. Shameful!
— Ammar Ali Jan (@ammaralijan) May 16, 2023
Sick to my stomach at the news about #Pakistan’s former human rights minister Shireen Mazari and senator Falak Naz. If this is how high profile politicians are being treated I can’t imagine what regular citizens are facing.
— Zahra (@zahrasalah0_0) May 16, 2023
Netizens have strongly condemned the treatment of Shireen Mazari, expressing their anger and demanding justice for the former minister. The incident has ignited a broader debate on the state of human rights and police misconduct in the country.
In response to the allegations, the Islamabad police have rejected the claims of any beating or scuffle taking place when Imaan Mazari went to the police station.
Read more: IHC expects the complaint against Imaan Mazari-Hazir to be withdrawn
“No incident of violence or scuffle took place. All arrests are being made in accordance with law and order. Islamabad Police will uphold the rule of law,” Islamabad police said on Twitter.
کسی تشدد یا ہاتھا پائی کا کوئی واقعہ پیش نہیں آیا۔
تمام گرفتاریاں قانون اور ضابطے کے مطابق عمل میں لائی جارہی ہیں۔
اسلام آباد پولیس قانون کی بالادستی کو قائم رکھے گی۔
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) May 16, 2023
PTI leader Shireen Mazari was released from central Jail Adiala. The Islamabad High Court had declared the detention of PTI leader Shireen Mazari under the MPO-3, unlawful.
A bench of the high court comprising of Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb declared the district magistrate’s detention order under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) as void and ordered the immediate release of former federal minister Shirin Mazari.
However, Islamabad police arrested PTI leader Shireen Mazari from outside of Adiala jail moments after her release.