Police say Aleema likely to be arrested today after judge notes failure to appear is obstruction of proceedings
Former prime minister Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khanum. PHOTO: FILE
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Aleema Khan on Friday after she failed to appear in court.
The court directed the relevant authorities to arrest and produce Aleema before the court on October 19.
ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah observed that Aleema’s repeated absences amounted to obstruction of juidicial proceedings.
The court could not record witness statements in the 26 November protest case lodged at Sadiqabad Police Station at today’s hearing given Aleema’s absence.
According to police sources, Aleema is likely to be arrested from Adiala Jail premises, where she was due to appear for Toshakhana II hearings.
Arrest warrants were issued earlier as well. A notice was also sent to her guarantor, summoning them to appear before the court on October 19, and the court questioned why Aleema’s surety bond amount should not be confiscated.
Read: ATC issues non-bailable arrest warrant for Aleema Khan
On September 18, ATC granted interim bail to Aleema in the November 26 D-Chowk protest case, with judge Amjad Ali Shah noting no clear evidence against her.
Aleema, sister of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, was directed to submit surety bonds of Rs50,000 and appear at hearings in the November 26 cases.
The case being heard in the ATC is registered at Sadiqabad Police Station, which includes charges of protesting against the government, chanting anti-government slogans, vandalism and stone-pelting.
The court has summoned five witnesses for the next hearing slated for October 19.
D-Chowk Protest
On November 13, 2023, Imran Khan made a “final call” for nationwide protests to be held on November 24, demanding the restoration of PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of imprisoned party members, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which he claimed had empowered a “dictatorial regime”.
The protest took place in D-Chowk, Islamabad, where supporters travelled from different provinces to heed Khan’s call.
The state rejected any possibility of negotiation, and an operation was conducted against the protestors, prompting the PTI leadership to flee the scene. The protest ended with the operation on November 26.
Read more: ATC grants Aleema interim bail in D-Chowk protest case
Cases Charged
At Sadiqabad Police Station, one case was filed for vandalism and rioting, in which Aleema Khan is nominated as an accused and was on pre-arrest bail.
Hearings on pre-arrest bail petitions filed by three PTI MNAs — Asif Khan, Sajid Khan Mohammad and one other — in the November 26 D-Chowk protest case were heard on September 16 in the Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad.
All three bail pleas were rejected by Judge Tahir Abbas Supra because the petitioners had failed to appear in court.
Similarly, protest-related cases are also registered at Civil Lines Police Station, Taxila Police Station and Waris Khan Police Station. A total of 29 cases have been filed in Rawalpindi District related to the D-Chowk protest. Imran Khan has been accused of seven, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, has been charged with all 29.
Also read: ATC rejects pre-arrest bail for three PTI MNAs
In these 29 cases, bail has already been granted to a total of 1,383 accused persons. Among them are Ali Amin Gandapur, Azam Swati, Salar Kakar and Salman Akram Raja. In 26 of these cases, the entire central leadership of PTI is nominated as accused.
All the accused were arrested between November 24 and 27, while bail approvals began six months later, starting from May this year and concluding on July 31.
On November 24, police registered cases against PTI chief Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, senior PTI leader Dr Arif Alvi, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, and hundreds of senior PTI lawmakers, leaders and workers across Punjab over violent protests.
The FIRs were filed under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). Imran Khan’s bail petitions in seven cases related to the November 26 incidents were filed by his lawyers. In these cases, Khan was formally arrested and sent to judicial custody.
