The court also issues notice to SP Rawal for not arresting her despite clear orders
Aleema Khan, sister of PTI’s founding chairman Imran Khan. Photo: Express/ File
RAWALPINDI:
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Tuesday reissued non-bailable warrants for Aleema Khan, sister of jailed former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, in connection with the November 26 protest case.
The court also issued a notice to Superintendent of Police (SP) Rawal for failing to execute the non-releasable warrants against Aleema Khan.
It directed SP Rawal to appear on Wednesday and explain why Aleema Khan was not arrested and produced before the court, despite clear orders.
The court further ordered that Aleema Khan be arrested and produced before it on Wednesday, February 4, without fail, after rejecting her application for exemption from appearance.
The case has been registered at Sadiqabad Police Station and relates to a protest held at D-Chowk in Islamabad on November 24, 2024.
The case stems from non-compliance with earlier court orders regarding Aleema Khan’s arrest in the case.
Non-bailable warrants were also issued for her two sureties, with the court ordering the authorities to arrest and produce them as well.
ATC judge Amjad Ali Shah presided over the hearing.
Read: ATC issues guarantees for Aleema that cannot be released
D-Chowk protest
On 13 November 2024, Imran Khan 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 at D-Chowk in Islamabad where supporters from different provinces traveled 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.
Read also: ATC denies pre-arrest bail to three PTI MNAs
Cases charged
A case of vandalism and rioting was registered at Sadiqabad police station, where Aleema Khan has been named as an accused and was on bail before arrest.
Hearings on pre-arrest bail applications filed by three PTI MNAs – Asif Khan, Sajid Khan Mohammad and another – in the November 26 D-Chowk protest case were heard on September 16 in the Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad.
All three pleas for bail were rejected by Justice Tahir Abbas Supra because the petitioners had failed to appear in court.
Similarly, protest related cases are 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 in connection with the D-Chowk protest. Imran Khan has been charged with seven, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, has been charged with all 29.
