Police say Aleema likely to be arrested today after judge notes his failure to appear constitutes obstruction of proceedings
Aleema Khanum, the sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. PHOTO: FILE
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Friday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Aleema Khan after she failed to appear in court.
The court ordered 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 legal proceedings.
The court could not record the statements of witnesses in connection with the November 26 protest filed at the Sadiqabad police station during today’s hearing due to the absence of Aleema.
According to police sources, Aleema is expected to be arrested on the premises of Adiala prison, where she was to appear for the Toshakhana II hearings.
Arrest warrants were also issued earlier. A notice was also sent to her surety, summoning them to appear in court on October 19, and the court questioned why Aleema’s bail amount should not be forfeited.
Read: ATC issues non-bailable arrest warrant for Aleema Khan
On September 18, the ATC granted interim bail to Aleema in connection with the November 26 D-Chowk protest case as Justice Amjad Ali Shah noted no clear evidence against her.
Aleema, sister of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has been asked to submit bail bonds of Rs 50,000 and appear for hearings in the cases on November 26.
The case heard by the ATC is registered at the Sadiqabad police station, and includes charges of protesting against the government, chanting anti-government slogans, vandalism and stone pelting.
The court summoned five witnesses for the next hearing scheduled for October 19.
D-Chowk Protest
On November 13, 2023, Imran Khan made a “final call” for nationwide protests on November 24, demanding the restoration of the PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of imprisoned party members and the repeal of the 26th Amendment, which he said had strengthened a “dictatorial regime”.
The protest took place at D-Chowk, Islamabad, where supporters came from different provinces to respond to Khan’s call.
The state rejected any possibility of negotiation and an operation was carried out against the protesters, prompting the PTI leadership to flee the scene. The demonstration ended with the operation on November 26.
Learn more: ATC grants interim bail to Aleema in D-Chowk protest case
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At Sadiqabad police station, a case was registered for vandalism and rioting, in which Aleema Khan is named as an accused and was out on bail before her arrest.
The hearings on the pre-arrest bail pleas filed by three PTI MLAs – Asif Khan, Sajid Khan Mohammad and another – in the November 26 D-Chowk protest case were heard on September 16 before the Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad.
The three bail applications were rejected by Justice Tahir Abbas Supra because the applicants failed to appear in court.
Similarly, cases related to the protests are also registered at Civil Lines Police Station, Taxila Police Station and Waris Khan Police Station. A total of 29 complaints were filed in Rawalpindi district in connection with the D-Chowk protest. Imran Khan was charged with seven counts, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, was charged with all 29.
Also read: ATC rejects pre-arrest bail of three PTI MPs
In these 29 cases, bail has already been granted to a total of 1,383 accused. Among them are Ali Amin Gandapur, Azam Swati, Salar Kakar and Salman Akram Raja. In 26 of these cases, the entire central leadership of the PTI is named as accused.
All defendants were arrested between November 24 and 27, while bail approvals began six months later, starting in May this year and ending 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, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, and hundreds of senior PTI legislators, leaders and workers across the Punjab, following violent demonstrations.
The FIRs were lodged under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). Imran Khan’s bail pleas in seven cases related to the November 26 incidents have been filed by his lawyers. In these cases, Khan was formally arrested and taken into judicial custody.
