- Court orders PTI founder’s sister to be produced on Oct 19 in Nov 26 protest case
RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi on Friday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, after she failed to appear in a hearing of November 26 D-Chowk protest case.
The court directed police to produce her on October 19.
ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah remarked that Aleema’s repeated absences were obstructing judicial proceedings, noting that the court was unable to record witness statements due to her nonappearance.
Police sources said Aleema is likely to be arrested from Adiala Jail premises, where she is scheduled to attend hearings in the Toshakhana II case.
The court also issued a notice to her guarantor, seeking their presence on October 19 and questioning why Aleema’s surety bond should not be confiscated.
On September 18, the same court had granted interim bail to Aleema in the November 26 protest case, observing at the time that there was no clear evidence against her. She was required to submit surety bonds of Rs50,000 and appear regularly at hearings.
The case, registered at Sadiqabad Police Station, includes charges of rioting, vandalism, stone-pelting, and chanting anti-government slogans during the D-Chowk protest. The court has summoned five witnesses for the next hearing scheduled for October 19.
D-Chowk protest
On November 13, 2023, Imran Khan had given a “final call” for nationwide protests to be held on November 24, demanding the restoration of PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of detained leaders, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which he claimed empowered a “dictatorial regime.”
The main demonstration took place at D-Chowk, Islamabad, where PTI supporters from across provinces gathered. Authorities later launched an operation to disperse protestors, ending the sit-in on November 26, with the PTI leadership allegedly fleeing the scene.
Related cases
At least 29 protest-related cases were registered across Rawalpindi District, including at Sadiqabad, Civil Lines, Taxila, and Waris Khan police stations.
Imran Khan was accused in seven cases, while Bushra Bibi was named in all 29 FIRs. The cases were filed under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
A total of 1,383 accused persons have since been granted bail, including Ali Amin Gandapur, Azam Swati, Salar Kakar, and Salman Akram Raja. Bail approvals began in May 2024 and concluded by July 31, months after the arrests made between November 24 and 27, 2023.
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