Prosecution requests 30-day physical remand, arguing that investigators have yet to recover a vehicle and weapons
Former Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) senator Mushtaq Ahmad holds press conference in Islamabad. Photo: X
ISLAMABAD:
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Thursday extended former Senator Mushtaq Ahmad and a co-accused, Daniyal, physical remand in police custody for a further four days in connection with a case registered over a protest related to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The accused were produced before Duty Judge Abdul Ghafoor after completing a three-day physical remand granted on August 3, when the court rejected the prosecution’s request for a 30-day remand. Prosecutors had argued that investigators needed additional custody to recover a vehicle and weapons allegedly linked to the case. Police registered the case at Islamabad’s Shalimar Police Station.
During the hearing, the prosecution requested a 30-day physical remand, arguing that investigators had yet to recover a vehicle and weapons allegedly linked to the case. “Recovery of a vehicle and weapons from the accused is still pending,” the prosecution told the court.
After hearing the arguments, the court granted a further four-day physical remand instead of the 30 days sought by the prosecution.
Last week, Ahmad’s team alleged he had been detained for more than 24 hours after being denied entry into AJK by security personnel, claiming his detention was linked to his support for the ongoing protests in the region.
During a press conference after his release from alleged detention, Ahmad announced a condolence, solidarity and peace gathering for AJK, inviting members of the public, student organisations, journalists and Kashmiris living in Islamabad to attend the event at F-10 Markaz.
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According to an earlier statement issued on his X account, the former senator was travelling to AJK on Tuesday “carrying white flags to express solidarity with the innocent people of Kashmir who have lost loved ones due to violence by security forces”.
The statement said he was stopped at Azad Pattan Bridge and denied entry into AJK before recording a protest and beginning his return journey to Islamabad.
It alleged that at around 7:07pm, Punjab Police intercepted his vehicle at Kahuta Bazaar, where “Punjab Police stopped him … and forcibly took him away in his vehicle”.
The clashes in AJK, which prompted Ahmad’s visit to the region, have drawn widespread condemnation from political parties and rights groups following reports of deaths and injuries during protests.
Last year in October, Ahmad was arrested by Israeli forces while aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla. Ahmad was leading the five-member Pakistani delegation as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla; however, he was later released.
