Court orders arrest after rejecting exemption request, keeps bank accounts and documents blocked
Aleema Khanum, sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. PHOTO: ARCHIVE
RAWALPINDI:
An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Aleema Khan, sister of jailed former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, after she failed to appear in a case related to the November 26 protest.
The court rejected Aleema Khan’s application for exemption from appearance, summoned her guarantors and issued notices to them. The case is registered at Sadiqabad Police Station and relates to a protest held at D-Chowk in Islamabad on November 24, 2024.
The protest followed a “final call” by Imran Khan for nationwide demonstrations demanding the restoration of the PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of jailed party leaders and the revocation of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which he claimed had strengthened a “dictatorial regime”.
Supporters from across the country gathered at D-Chowk. The government ruled out negotiations and launched an operation against the protesters, causing the PTI leaders to flee. The protest ended on November 26.
During Monday’s hearing, the defense lawyer sought a one-day exemption, saying that Aleema Khan’s bank account, CNIC and passport had been blocked, creating difficulties in travel and daily affairs.
Judge Amjad Ali Shah ordered the restoration of his frozen personal bank account, blocked national identity card and passport, warning that contempt proceedings could be initiated if the order was not implemented. The court noted that restoration orders had already been issued, but the defense said they had not been executed. The judge warned that action would be taken if compliance was not ensured.
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However, after hearing the arguments, the court rejected the exemption plea, issued non-bailable arrest warrants and directed the Rawal Superintendent of Police to arrest Aleema Khan and produce her before the court by Tuesday. The judge ruled that his bank account and identity documents would remain frozen until he appeared in court.
On October 24, the ATC had directed the NADRA chairman to block his CNIC, the director general of passports to block his passport and the State Bank governor to freeze all his bank accounts after repeated failures to appear despite earlier court orders. The court had also ordered the confiscation of his guarantor’s assets in favor of the State.
Prosecutor Zaheer Ali Shah opposed the exemption request, saying Aleema Khan had already applied for exemptions twice and was using delaying tactics. “The defendant cannot dictate conditions to the court,” he said, urging the judge to continue with the trial.
The defense maintained that Aleema Khan would not appear until her accounts and documents were restored. The court rejected the argument.
The prosecution witnesses were present in court. Cross-examination of 10 witnesses was completed, while three more were summoned for the next hearing. The case was adjourned until Tuesday.
Medical requests for Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi
The court also accepted requests for medical examination of Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi by their personal doctors, including ophthalmological and dental specialists. Notices have been sent to the Adiala Jail Superintendent seeking comments by Tuesday, February 3.
Defense lawyer Faisal Mahmood Malik filed the applications, arguing that both had the constitutional and legal right to receive medical treatment from their own doctors under the supervision of Dr. Asim Yousaf. The court was told that medical reports of eye procedures performed at PIMS had to be provided.
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On January 29, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that Imran Khan had undergone a medical procedure for an eye ailment at PIMS. It was the first time he had been released from Adiala Jail since his arrest in August 2023 following convictions in multiple cases.
The defense said jail rules require families to be informed before medical procedures, but this was not done, raising concerns. He added that the family would not accept evaluations conducted solely by government doctors.
Amid the controversy, PIMS confirmed the treatment and said, “In the recent past, Mr. Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (74 years old) reported reduced vision in his right eye.”
A senior PIMS ophthalmologist conducted a detailed examination at Adiala Jail, which included slit lamp evaluation, fundus, intraocular pressure measurement, laboratory tests and optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the retina.
