The court approves the prosecution’s request to seize Rs2 million from the accused’s bail
Judge Amjad Ali Shah of the Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court has issued a contempt order for failing to pay Rs80,000 in fines. The court also issued warrants for the release of Aleema Khan due to her late appearance in the court on Thursday.
The court allowed the prosecution’s request to attach Rs2 million from the accused’s bail and served notices on her sureties for recovery of the amount.
The case pending in the ATC is registered at Sadiqabad police station regarding the November 26 D-Chowk protest, which includes charges of protesting against the government, chanting anti-government slogans, vandalism and stone pelting.
Although Aleema and her lawyers did not appear at the appointed time, they presented themselves with their legal team after the adjournment. The court noted that the case had been brought twice, but no appearance had been made by the defendant.
Requesting permission to speak, Aleema said she had already given a statement to the media regarding the founder’s peaceful protest and questioned the need for witnesses.
Prosecutor Syed Zaheer Shah immediately called for her statement to be recorded, noting that when the accused gave a confession in court, the case should be considered closed.
Read: The water cannon breaks Aleema Khan’s sit-in in Adiala Jail
During the case, the defense counsel, Faisal Malik, objected to the recording of Aleema Khan’s statement. Malik requested the court not to include the statement in the record.
The prosecutor accepted and asked why it should not be recorded. Aleema Khan noted that she should be allowed to speak and questioned the delay if the authorities intended to imprison her.
Prosecutor Zaheer Shah told the court that the verdict had already been passed and a retrial had no legal basis, but suggested recording the witnesses’ statements as a compromise.
The court held that there was no legal basis for a rehearing in the same court and upheld its existing rulings.
Subsequently, the defense filed a motion to mark appearance and the court issued a notice to the prosecution. Justice Amjad Ali Shah adjourned the next hearing to December 15.
Media talk
Aleema Khan said they would “not be intimidated by water cannons” and insisted supporters “would not abandon their leader”.
Aleema was referring to early Wednesday when police used water cannon to disperse a sit-in led by her outside Adiala jail after authorities denied permission for a meeting with jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
She claimed that Bushra Bibi had only had a 40-minute visit in two months, while she herself had had only one hour to meet the PTI founder. She criticized those who questioned why women were outside the prison at 2am, saying they had been “peacefully demanding their rights”.
Read more: Negotiations underway as PTI sit-in continues outside Adiala jail
She alleged that “a few influential groups” controlled industries related to minerals, sugar and wheat and could “import or export at will” while the public remained “their subjects”.
She claimed that the PTI founder had been placed in solitary confinement and often told supporters that “if you remain submissive today, your future generations will be the same”.
Referring to comments on television that predicted five years in prison for her, she said the constitution guaranteed her the right to freedom of expression. Aleema added that if force was used against them, they would “embrace martyrdom”, saying they were “no longer afraid”.
She said those “betraying Pakistan” were those who called PTI supporters traitors, which she described as “a badge of honour”. Further stated that Imran “stood firm for the truth” and that his stance had “raised Pakistan’s stature internationally”.
Read also: PTI says Imran ‘not a security threat’
D-Chowk protest
On 13 November 2023, Imran made a “final call” for nationwide protests on 24 November, demanding the restoration of the PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of jailed party members and the overturning of the 26th Amendment, which he claimed had empowered a “dictatorial regime”.
The protest took place in D-Chowk, Islamabad where supporters traveled from different provinces to listen to Khan’s call.
The state rejected any possibility of negotiation and an operation was conducted against the protesters, prompting the PTI leadership to flee the scene. The protest ended with the operation on 26 November.
A notice was also sent to her bail bondsman summoning them to appear before the court and the court also canceled Aleema Khan’s bail.
