Police say Aleema is likely to be arrested today after the judge ruled that failure to appear is an obstruction of proceedings.
Aleema Khanum, sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. PHOTO: ARCHIVE
An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi on Friday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Aleema Khan after she failed to appear in court.
The court ordered relevant authorities to arrest and produce Aleema in court on October 19.
ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah observed that Aleema’s repeated absences amounted to obstruction of court proceedings.
The court could not record the statements of witnesses in the November 26 protest case filed at Sadiqabad police station in today’s hearing in view of Aleema’s absence.
According to police sources, Aleema is likely to be arrested from the Adiala Jail premises, where she was supposed to appear for the Toshakhana II hearings.
Arrest warrants were also issued previously. A notice was also sent to her guarantor, summoning them to appear in court on October 19, and the court questioned why Aleema’s bail 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 Justice Amjad Ali Shah noting clear evidence against her.
Aleema, sister of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, was directed to submit bail bonds of Rs 50,000 and appear in the hearings of the cases on November 26.
The case pending at 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 has 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 holding nationwide protests on November 24, demanding the restoration of the PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of jailed party members, and the repeal of the 26th Amendment, which he claimed had strengthened a “dictatorial regime.”
The protest took place at D-Chowk, Islamabad, where his supporters traveled from different provinces to heed Khan’s call.
The State rejected any possibility of negotiation and an operation was carried out against the protesters, causing the PTI leadership to flee the scene. The protest ended with the operation on November 26.
Read more: ATC grants Aleema provisional release in case of D-Chowk protest
Charged cases
A case of vandalism and rioting was lodged at the Sadiqabad police station, in which Aleema Khan is named as an accused and was out on bail before her arrest.
Hearings on the pre-arrest bail petitions filed by three PTI members – Asif Khan, Sajid Khan Mohammad and another – in the November 26 D-Chowk protest case were held on September 16 at the Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad.
All three bail applications were rejected by Justice Tahir Abbas Supra because the petitioners had not appeared in court.
Similarly, protest-related cases were 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 charged with 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, a total of 1,383 accused have already been granted bail. Among them are Ali Amin Gandapur, Azam Swati, Salar Kakar and Salman Akram Raja. In 26 of these cases, the entire PTI central leadership is named as an accused.
All the accused were detained between November 24 and 27, while bail approvals began six months later, starting in 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, leader of opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan and hundreds of senior PTI legislators, leaders and workers across Punjab due to violent protests.
The FIRs were lodged under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). Imran Khan’s bail pleas were filed by his lawyers in seven cases related to the November 26 incidents. In these cases, Khan was formally arrested and sent to judicial custody.
