Imaan Mazari among 70 lawyers booked under anti-terror law

By Nadir Baloch

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad’s Secretariat Police have booked 70 lawyers including Imaan Mazari-Hazir, Intizar Panjhutha, Naeem Panjhutha, Hadi Chatha and others under anti-terrorism provisions on a complaint filed by Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) President Wajid Gilani.

In the FIR, Gilani stated that more than 150 individuals, including Intizar Panjhutha, Fatahullah Barki, Naeem Panjhutha and Imaan Mazari, allegedly chanted derogatory slogans against the chief justice and the Pakistan Army.

He further alleged that Intizar Panjhutha, Naeem Haider and Mustafeen Kazmi, along with others, assaulted him and attempted to kill him with knives.

The FIR was lodged after young lawyers and IHCBA leaders exchanged heated arguments during a protest in support of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri, who has been barred from judicial work pending a Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) decision on allegations concerning his academic credentials.

On September 16, an IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan ordered Justice Jahangiri to refrain from judicial duties until the SJC rules on a petition by Mian Dawood, who has sought the judge’s removal for allegedly holding a fake degree.

During Friday’s protest, lawyers chanting slogans marched from the court premises to IHCBA President Wajid Gilani’s office. As Gilani emerged and headed to his car, some lawyers confronted him and shouted “shame, shame.” Gilani then approached lawyer Intizar Haider Panjhutha, accusing the group of misbehaviour. Young lawyer Fatahullah Barki intervened, chanting “bullying will not be tolerated,” sparking a verbal clash between protesters and bar leaders.

The young lawyers insisted that Justice Jahangiri had been treated unfairly and urged Gilani to back him. Panjhutha said Gilani was their president too and should lead them.

Later, at a press conference, Gilani said that while he could forgive personal attacks, he would not overlook misconduct against the Bar’s president and secretary. He announced legal action against the lawyers involved, stressing: “We cannot afford to be proxies of any judge. We must stand for the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution.”

IHCBA Secretary Manzoor Jajja said terrorism charges would be pursued against those involved and that the Bar would ask the Islamabad Bar Council to cancel their licences. He also criticised the delay in deciding Justice Jahangiri’s degree issue, adding: “Do not become touts of judges. Judges are fighting their own cases. We will expose these touts.”

According to sources, Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha later visited Gilani’s office to seek his stance but found him absent. Heated exchanges also broke out between some lawyers in the IHCBA president’s office and Mazari, who later told Hum News that her group’s protest was peaceful and aimed solely at expressing solidarity with Justice Jahangiri. She denied links with lawyers who misbehaved, accusing some elements of trying to sabotage the protest.

Chatha also denied that the lawyers raised anti-state slogans, insisting that protest videos were available to prove their stance. He reiterated that Gilani was their president and they wanted him to lead.

Former IHCBA president Riyasat Ali Azad condemned the incident, saying it should not have happened and warning against actions that deepen divisions among lawyers.