Army’s JAG branch files FIR against Shireen Mazari’s daughter

Pakistan Army lodged a first information report(FIR) against Shireen Mazari’s daughter Imaan Mazari for “abusing and slandering” the army and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

However, the High Court of Islamabad granted Imaan pre-arrest bail until June 9 in the case.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the application for release before the arrest by advocate Zainab Janjua.

Syed Humayun Iftikhar, Lt Colonel of the Judge Advocate General, GHQ, had lodged an FIR against Imaan at the Ramana police station of the Islamabad on May 26th (Thursday).

Imaan was booked under sections 505 (incitement against the armed forces) and 138 (incitement to insubordination by soldier) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Section 138 reads: “Whoever abets what he knows to be an act of insubordination by an officer, soldier, sailor or airman, in the Army, Navy or Air Force of Pakistan, shall if such act of insubordination be committed in consequence of that abetment, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.”

According to the request, Mazari made a “derogatory and hateful statement [sic] on 21 May” against the Pakistan army and its chief Gen Qamar.

“Her derogatory statements are highly disparaging aimed to cause and incite mutiny/intimidation amongst ranks and file of Pakistan Army,” it stated.

“It also leads to ridicule and creates hatred within Pakistan Army which made out [sic] a serious offense.” It also alleged Mazari defamed the top military leadership that these “statements, made with the intention of causing and creating unrest and chaos in the Pakistani army” ” which is a “punishable offense”.

According to the application, there is reason to believe that this act [sic] will damage the [army ] reputation and top leadership.

The application was aimed at prosecuting Mazari for an offense against the state.

It is worth mentioning here that the Punjab government denied its role in Shireen Mazari’s arrest her daughter, Imaan, accused General Qamar and the military of being responsible for her mother’s detention.

Later, challenging the FIR, the lawyer representing Imaan said that her client was “the victim of ulterior motives and high authority of the complainant and others, who are very influential”.

“The FIR is baseless and the claims are absurd,” the petition said.

The court accepted her plea and granted Imaan bail before her arrest for two weeks.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the trial of the justice system began after the military resorted to legal means.

“The law and the Constitution of Pakistan protect the army from such misconduct. Will Pakistan’s media and civil society raise its voice for justice as it would for others?”

The ISPR said, “Today, the military has taken the path of law and justice to seek justice.”

Obtaining justice, said the wing of the military media, will create a tradition of institutions knocking at the door of the law in each case.

“It is a historic occasion for the justice system of the country to decide this case on 100% merit.
Being female, being innocent shouldn’t be justified.”

“The law provided by the Constitution should be applied to protect the army.”