ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s capital city police have arrested human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband on charges of interfering in government affairs by removing barricades placed on a road as part of the England cricket team’s security protocol in Islamabad, a police spokesman said on Monday.
The incident occurred on the morning of Oct. 25 at the Zero Point interchange when the England team was being transported to the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for the third and final Test that was won by Pakistan.
However, the couple was arrested today following a police complaint that stated Mazari-Hazir, daughter of former federal minister Shireen Mazari, and her husband, Abdul Hadi, scuffled with traffic police after attempting to remove the barricades.
“Mazari-Hazir and her husband were arrested today, Monday, by the Aabpara Police Station on the charges of interference in the government operations,” Islamabad police spokesperson Jawad Taqi told Arab News.
He said a case was registered against the couple for violating the standard operating procedures for state guests as well as for threatening and shoving police officials.
In 2009, seven people, including six policemen, were killed when militants attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan’s eastern Lahore city. The attack proved a heavy blow to the cricket-loving nation with international games suspended in the country and even the Pakistan Super League, the country’s first Twenty20 league, had to be shifted to the United Arab Emirates. Zimbabwe was the first country to visit Pakistan to play cricket six years after the attack.
“Both husband and wife escaped from the spot by removing the barriers and the video of the incident went viral on social media,” the police spokesman said, adding that Hadi “pushed traffic police officers, verbally abused them and threatened them with dire consequences.”
The video shows Mazari-Hazir and Hadi attempting to remove the barricades as traffic police officials try to stop them. Hadi is seen lashing out at a policeman in abusive language and pushing him away, saying: “How dare you touch my wife?” He later screams at police officials, saying that “no one can stop him from reaching the court.”
Mazari-Hazir could not be reached for a comment as her phone was switched off. The lawyer is a known critic of Pakistan’s powerful military and has been arrested multiple times in the past for her fiery speeches at various gatherings.
Pakistani rights lawyer, husband arrested for violating England team’s security protocol
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Pakistani rights lawyer, husband arrested for violating England team’s security protocol
- Police say Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, husband hurled verbal abuses at traffic cops, removed barricades placed for the team’s safety
- Seven people, including six policemen, were killed in 2009 when the Sri Lankan cricket team came under attack in Pakistan’s Lahore city
Pakistan lets oil companies regulate supply to curb hoarding amid Gulf tensions
- Oil marketing companies to regulate supplies to retail outlets based on historical sales patterns, says regulator
- Pakistan holds “adequate stocks of petrol and diesel,” assures regulator amid ongoing Middle East conflict
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) announced on Wednesday it was allowing oil marketing companies to regulate supply to retail outlets as a temporary move to prevent hoarding, as tensions in the Middle East surge following the ongoing military conflict involving Iran.
The decision follows fears of fuel shortage in Pakistan after the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway between Iran and Oman, was shut after escalating hostilities between Tehran and the US and Israel in the Gulf. The conflict has disrupted tanker traffic through one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints.
Pakistan relies heavily on Middle Eastern crude oil, with the majority of its energy imports typically transiting the strait, making any disruption a major risk to domestic fuel supplies.
“To ensure the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and to discourage hoarding during periods of extreme price volatility, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) may temporarily regulate supplies to retail outlets based on their historical sales patterns,” OGRA spokesperson Imran Ghaznavi said in a press release.
“This measure is a standard supply management practice aimed at maintaining stability in the distribution system.”
The OGRA spokesperson clarified that Pakistan currently holds “adequate stocks of petrol and diesel, well within the required limits.”
He stressed that there is no shortage of petroleum products in the country.
“Citizens are advised not to pay attention to rumors and to rely only on information issued through official channels,” Ghaznavi said.
Pakistan has moved quickly to ensure its stock of petroleum products does not take a massive hit. Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik met Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on Wednesday.
Pakistan asked Saudi Arabia for help in securing crude oil supplies through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, the petroleum ministry said.
The Saudi ambassador reaffirmed Riyadh’s support, saying the Kingdom was aware of the evolving situation and would stand with Pakistan to meet any emergency requirements, the statement added.
