Police get 3 days to quiz Mushtaq over F-10 unrest
An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has handed over former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan to police custody for three days. The order came in a case linked to a protest in the capital.
Police produced the former senator along with another suspect named Daniyal before Duty Judge Rukhsanda Shaheen at the anti-terrorism court.
During the hearing, the prosecution asked the court for a 30-day physical remand. They said police needed more time to recover a vehicle and weapons allegedly connected to the case.
After listening to the arguments, the court approved a three-day physical remand for Mushtaq Ahmad and the other suspects. The court directed police to bring them back once the remand period ends.
The case was registered at Islamabad’s Shalimar Police Station on July 31. The complaint was filed by Sub-inspector Ghulam Murtaza.
According to the First Information Report, Mushtaq Ahmad led a crowd of around 400 to 500 people who gathered in the capital’s F-10 sector. The report accused him of delivering provocative speeches through loudspeakers. It said his speeches forced nearby shops to close down. It also said the crowd chanted slogans against current government institutions.
The FIR further stated that Mushtaq then led the protesters toward Sambal Road. Police say the group intended to march toward Main Jinnah Avenue and block the road there.
The district administration reportedly used loudspeakers to tell Mushtaq to end the gathering, since it was being held without a no-objection certificate. Despite this warning, the former senator and his supporters blocked a main road near Shalimar Plaza at around 7:10pm, according to the FIR.
The report also accused the protesters of vandalising a media DSNG vehicle along with several private cars passing through the area at the time. It claimed that protesters pelted stones and attacked police officials on duty. The FIR further alleged that some protesters snatched anti-riot helmets from police personnel and threatened them.
Police say the case has been registered under relevant sections of the law dealing with terrorism and unlawful assembly. Investigators are now working to gather further evidence, including recovering the vehicle and weapons mentioned in the case.
The former senator will remain in police custody during the three-day remand period. He is expected to be produced before the court again once this period concludes, where police may seek further custody or the case may proceed to the next legal stage.
The incident has drawn attention to ongoing tensions between political groups and law enforcement in the capital, with authorities stressing that unauthorised gatherings and road blockages will not be tolerated without proper permissions from the district administration.