RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Thursday reissued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, for the eighth consecutive time over her persistent failure to appear in court.
The case, registered at Sadiqabad Police Station, pertains to charges of vandalism, stone-pelting, and anti-government sloganeering during a protest against the government.
ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah noted that Aleema’s repeated absences amounted to “obstruction of judicial proceedings”, adding that the court had been unable to record witness statements due to her continued nonappearance.
The court has directed multiple government bodies to submit information about Aleema’s financial and property records. Orders were issued to the Capital Development Authority chairman and Islamabad Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa to provide details of her assets, and to Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Chairperson Akif Saeed to furnish records of any companies or shares in her name.
The ATC was informed that 12 of Aleema’s bank accounts — including those in Bank Alfalah and MCB — had been frozen, with one MCB account alone holding Rs124 million. These actions followed earlier court directives issued on October 24 to block her computerised national identity card (CNIC), freeze her bank accounts, and suspend her passport.
In addition, the court issued arrest warrants for two senior bank officials — the UBL Head Office Manager in Karachi and Habib Metro Bank Manager Syed Mansoor Hussain — for failing to submit compliance reports despite repeated notices. Soneri Bank and Bank of Punjab were also served contempt of court notices for similar non-compliance.
Prosecutors argued that Aleema’s continued defiance amounted to “mockery of the judicial process.” The court observed that despite multiple opportunities, Aleema had not attended proceedings where she was to be formally indicted.
Her non-bailable warrants were previously reissued on October 14, 20, 22, and November 4. On October 14, the court also dismissed her lawyer’s plea for exemption from personal appearance.
Aleema was earlier granted interim bail on September 18 in the November 26 D-Chowk protest case, with the court noting insufficient evidence at that stage. She had been instructed to furnish surety bonds worth Rs50,000 and attend subsequent hearings — directions she has since failed to comply with.
The court has now cancelled her surety bonds and issued a notice to her guarantor, directing them to appear at the next hearing, which has been adjourned until November 10.
The case stems from the PTI’s November 2023 demonstrations following Imran Khan’s “final call” for nationwide protests demanding restoration of the party’s mandate, release of imprisoned leaders, and reversal of the 26th Amendment.
Protests culminated at D-Chowk, Islamabad, where demonstrators clashed with law enforcement after the government rejected calls for negotiation. The protest ended following a security operation on November 26, leading to arrests and multiple criminal cases against PTI members, including Aleema Khan.
