An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Thursday granted police a further four-day physical remand of former Senator Mushtaq Ahmad and co-accused Daniyal after prosecutors argued that key evidence in a case linked to protests over Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) had yet to be recovered.
Judge Abdul Ghafoor issued the order after the two men were produced on completion of a three-day remand granted on August 3.
The prosecution sought 30 days of police custody, telling the court that a vehicle and weapons allegedly connected to the case were still to be recovered. “Recovery of a vehicle and weapons from the accused is still pending,” prosecutors said during the hearing.
The court declined the request for a month-long remand and instead authorised four additional days in police custody.
Earlier, police registered the case against Mushtaq at Islamabad’s Shalimar Police Station.
Ahmad’s legal team has alleged that the former senator was detained for more than 24 hours last week after security personnel prevented him from entering AJK. They claimed the detention was related to his support for demonstrations in the region.
Following his release, Ahmad announced plans to hold a condolence, solidarity and peace gathering at Islamabad’s F-10 Markaz, inviting members of the public, student organisations, journalists and Kashmiris residing in the capital.
In a statement posted earlier on his X account, Ahmad said he had been travelling to AJK “carrying white flags to express solidarity with the innocent people of Kashmir who have lost loved ones due to violence by security forces”. According to the statement, he was stopped at Azad Pattan Bridge and refused entry before returning towards Islamabad.
The statement further alleged that Punjab Police intercepted his vehicle at Kahuta Bazaar at about 7 pm and took him into custody.
