An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Monday ordered a three-day physical remand for former senator Mushtaq Ahmad and a co-accused following their arrest linked to a rally supporting protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Duty Judge Rakhshanda Shaheen approved the remand after Islamabad police presented Mushtaq, a former Jamaat-e-Islami senator, and co-accused Daniyal before the court. Prosecutors had requested a 30-day remand, arguing that investigators needed more time to recover a vehicle and an allegedly illegal weapon connected to the case.
The case was registered at Shalimar Police Station after Mushtaq and others organized the rally at F-10 Markaz to show solidarity with protesters in AJK. Mushtaq has been an outspoken advocate for the AJK demonstrators, calling for enhanced political and constitutional rights for the region.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad protest occurred amid escalating tensions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where the banned Azad Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (AAC) and its supporters have been staging sit-ins and blockades for over a month. The unrest, fueled by socio-economic grievances and election disputes, has led to violent confrontations between security forces and protesters, resulting in multiple casualties on both sides.
In response, authorities in the federal capital have enforced strict security measures to prevent the AJK agitation from spreading to Islamabad, frequently imposing bans on public gatherings.
