ISLAMABAD: Police registered a case against Imaan Mazari, daughter of PTI leader Shireen Mazari, on Friday for allegedly making derogatory statements against Pakistan Army and Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.
The FIR was registered at Ramna police station under Section 505 (hate speech) and Section 138 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
According to the application seeking the registration of the FIR, Mazari made a “derogatory and hatred [sic] statement on May 21” against Pakistan Army and its chief General Bajwa.
Mazari “abused the senior military leadership of the Pakistan Army”, the application filed by Syed Humayun Iftikhar, Lt Colonel for Judge Advocate General, GHQ, stated as it sought registration of a case against Mazari.
“Her derogatory statements are highly disparaging aimed to cause and incite mutiny/intimidation amongst ranks and file of Pakistan Army,” it stated, adding, “It also leads to ridicule and create hatred within the Pakistan Army which made out a serious offence.”
It alleged Mazari also defamed the senior military leadership as these “statements, made with the intent to cause and create unrest and chaos in the Pakistan Army” which is a “punishable offence”.
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 application, “There are reasons to believe that such act [sic] will harm the reputation of [the] army and senior leadership.” The application sought legal action against Mazari for an offence against the state.
It may be noted here that after the Punjab government distanced itself from Shireen Mazari’s arrest, her daughter Imaan accused Gen Bajwa and the army of being behind the detention of her mother.
Some analysts believe this would be a test case for the country’s criminal justice system because the military has opted for the legal course for “justice”.
The country’s Constitution and law provide protection to the armed forces against defamation and ridicule, and a decision on merit, irrespective of the age and gender of the accused, would set a precedent.
