An anti-terrorism court postponed the verdict in a case related to terrorism charges against Pashtun activist Gulalai Ismail’s parents until February 15th.
The ATC was set to announce the verdict today, however, the case was adjourned.
The case concluded two weeks ago.
The court didn’t announce the verdict today and adjourned the case to 15th Feb. Thank you, everyone, for your messages of support and solidarity. https://t.co/PK4LMpBi2P
— Gulalai Ismail ګلالۍاسماعیل (@Gulalai_Ismail) February 8, 2023
Gulalai Ismail’s father, Professor Muhammad Ismail, aged 69, is a prominent member of Pakistani civil society and a human rights defender.
Gulalai Ismail is living in self-exile in the US after a case was registered against her in Islamabad for allegedly defaming state institutions and inciting violence through a speech delivered in a demonstration against the sexual abuse and killing of a minor girl.
On July 6th, 2019, the counter-terrorism department (CTD) registered an FIR under Section 11-N of the Anti-Terrorism Act charging Gulalai Ismail, her father Mohammad Ismail, and her mother Uzlifat, with being sympathisers of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement.
However, an anti-terrorism court refused to indict the family on the said charges due to lack of evidence.
On October 24, 2019, professor Ismail was arrested from outside the Peshawar High Court when he had gone to attend the hearing of the same case on sedition charges. The 69-year-old got conditional bail in November of the same year after spending 33 days in detention.
In September 2020, new charges related to sedition and conspiracy were filed against the family. Professor Ismail was arrested and denied bail initially.
On January 4, 2023, cyberterrorism and hate speech charges were brought in against Professor Ismail.
Human rights activists have continuously condemned the charges filed against the family and deemed the cases to be filed with “malafide intention”.
