An Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Monday handed Senator Mushtaq Ahmad and co accused Daniyal over to police on a three day physical remand in connection with a case registered following a protest related to Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The suspects were produced before ATC Duty Judge Rakhshanda Shaheen by Islamabad Police. During the hearing, the prosecution argued that the physical remand was necessary to recover a vehicle and weapons allegedly linked to the case.
The prosecution sought a 30 day physical remand of the accused. However, the court partially accepted the request and granted police a three day physical remand of Senator Mushtaq Ahmad and the other accused.
The case was registered at Shalimar Police Station in Islamabad after a protest held in connection with Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the Tehreek Tahaffuz Aain Pakistan (Movement for the Protection of the Constitution of Pakistan) strongly condemned the registration of the case against its spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai, Senator Mushtaq Ahmad and other participants, describing it as an attack on constitutional and democratic rights.
In a statement, the movement said the case was registered after a peaceful protest held in Islamabad’s F 10 sector to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. It maintained that raising one’s voice in support of Kashmiris was not a crime but a moral, humanitarian and democratic responsibility.
The statement further said that filing criminal cases against peaceful protesters violated the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of Pakistan, particularly the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. It added that any attempt to silence dissenting voices through legal cases, pressure or intimidation was unacceptable.
The movement demanded the immediate withdrawal of the case against Akhunzada Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai, Senator Mushtaq Ahmad and the other participants, and urged the authorities to refrain from interfering with citizens’ constitutional and democratic rights in the future.
It also vowed to continue expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir, stating that its struggle for the protection of the Constitution, the rule of law and democratic rights would not be deterred by legal action or pressure.
