An anti-terrorism court in Peshawar has indicted the parents of rights activist and Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader Gulalai Ismail 'on charges of actively aiding' two terrorist attacks carried out by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in 2013 and 2015.
According to journalist Asad Hashim, the court charged Prof Mohammad Ismail, who is also a known activist, and Gulalai's mother, Uzlifat, for 'funding and providing resources' to facilitate attacks on a church and a Shia mosque in 2013 and 2015, respectively.
The accused have denied all charges. The journalist wrote that the family of the PTM activist has 'faced accusations of financing terrorism since Ismail was forced to flee the country in light of threats to her life and safety'.
On July 3, an anti-terrorism court had declined to indict social activist Gulalai Ismail and her parents for the financing of terrorist organisations due to the unavailability of evidence.
The court pronounced that the charge couldn’t be framed against the accused as the prosecution didn’t produce any evidence, so they were exonerated from the charge under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
According to CTD inspector Muhammad Ilyas, Gulalai Ismail was the chairperson of an organisation, Aware Girls, which was used to finance anti-state elements and terrorist organisations.
In October, Gulalai’s father Prof. Ismail was arrested by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for ‘spreading hate against the state’. Later, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) had granted him ‘conditional bail’.
After leaving Pakistan, Gulalai Ismail stated that the reason for her leaving Pakistan was the state’s failure to protect her. She made these comments in response to comments made by Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari in a recent interview to Voice of America.
In the interview, in response to a question about why Gulalai Ismail had to flee Pakistan, the HR minister had said Gulalai had made allegations against the Pakistan Army without any data and facts. She had further stated, “I guess If you want asylum you’ll start accusing your country’s army, because that is the only way you’ll get it.”
In a tweet made on Sunday, Gulalai responded to Shireen Mazari’s comments. She said that trolls of the establishment made various allegations against her regarding her religious views and loyalty to the state.
Gulalai Ismail had gone into hiding following a crackdown on Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement after a protest against the alleged rape and murder of 10-year-old Farishta. Three months after the crackdown, it had emerged that Gulalai was in the United States and had sought political asylum there.
According to journalist Asad Hashim, the court charged Prof Mohammad Ismail, who is also a known activist, and Gulalai's mother, Uzlifat, for 'funding and providing resources' to facilitate attacks on a church and a Shia mosque in 2013 and 2015, respectively.
Yesterday, an anti-terrorism court in Peshawar indicted the parents of rights activist @Gulalai_Ismail on charges of actively aiding two TTP attacks, on a church (2013) and a Shia mosque (2015), in Peshawar, claiming they funded them and provided resources. They deny all charges.
— Asad Hashim (@AsadHashim) October 1, 2020
The accused have denied all charges. The journalist wrote that the family of the PTM activist has 'faced accusations of financing terrorism since Ismail was forced to flee the country in light of threats to her life and safety'.
On July 3, an anti-terrorism court had declined to indict social activist Gulalai Ismail and her parents for the financing of terrorist organisations due to the unavailability of evidence.
The court pronounced that the charge couldn’t be framed against the accused as the prosecution didn’t produce any evidence, so they were exonerated from the charge under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
According to CTD inspector Muhammad Ilyas, Gulalai Ismail was the chairperson of an organisation, Aware Girls, which was used to finance anti-state elements and terrorist organisations.
In October, Gulalai’s father Prof. Ismail was arrested by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for ‘spreading hate against the state’. Later, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) had granted him ‘conditional bail’.
Gulalai in self-exile
After leaving Pakistan, Gulalai Ismail stated that the reason for her leaving Pakistan was the state’s failure to protect her. She made these comments in response to comments made by Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari in a recent interview to Voice of America.
In the interview, in response to a question about why Gulalai Ismail had to flee Pakistan, the HR minister had said Gulalai had made allegations against the Pakistan Army without any data and facts. She had further stated, “I guess If you want asylum you’ll start accusing your country’s army, because that is the only way you’ll get it.”
In a tweet made on Sunday, Gulalai responded to Shireen Mazari’s comments. She said that trolls of the establishment made various allegations against her regarding her religious views and loyalty to the state.
She said the sole reason why she left the country was that the state failed to protect her and even her family was punished for her critical views and had cases of terrorism registered against them.
Gulalai Ismail had gone into hiding following a crackdown on Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement after a protest against the alleged rape and murder of 10-year-old Farishta. Three months after the crackdown, it had emerged that Gulalai was in the United States and had sought political asylum there.