Court orders arrest after rejecting exemption plea, keeps bank accounts and documents blocked
Former prime minister Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khanum. PHOTO: FILE
RAWALPINDI:
A Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Aleema Khan, the sister of incarcerated former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, after she failed to appear in a case linked to the November 26 protest.
The court rejected Aleema Khan’s request 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 restoration of PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of jailed party leaders and reversal of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which he said had empowered a “dictatorial regime”.
Supporters from across the country gathered at D-Chowk. The government ruled out negotiations and launched an operation against protesters, prompting PTI leaders to flee. The protest ended on November 26.
During Monday’s hearing, defence counsel sought a one-day exemption, saying 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 her 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 defence said they had not been carried out. The judge warned that action would follow if compliance was not ensured.
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However, after hearing arguments, the court rejected the exemption plea, issued non-bailable arrest warrants and ordered the Rawal superintendent of police to arrest Aleema Khan and produce her before the court by Tuesday. The judge ruled that her bank account and identity documents would remain blocked until she appears in court.
On October 24, the ATC had ordered the NADRA chairman to block her CNIC, the director general of passports to block her passport and the State Bank governor to freeze all her bank accounts after repeated failures to appear despite earlier warrants. The court had also ordered confiscation of her guarantor’s property in favour of the state.
Prosecutor Zaheer Ali Shah opposed the exemption request, saying Aleema Khan had already sought exemptions twice and was using delaying tactics. “The accused cannot dictate terms to the court,” he said, urging the judge to proceed with the trial.
The defence maintained that Aleema Khan would not appear until her accounts and documents were restored. The court rejected the argument.
Prosecution witnesses were present in court. Cross-examination of 10 witnesses has been completed, while three more were summoned for the next hearing. The case was adjourned until Tuesday.
Medical pleas for Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi
The court also accepted for hearing applications seeking medical examinations of Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi by their personal doctors, including eye and dental specialists. Notices were issued to the superintendent of Adiala Jail, seeking comments by Tuesday, February 3.
Defence counsel Faisal Mahmood Malik filed the applications, arguing that both had a constitutional and legal right to medical treatment by their own physicians under the supervision of Dr Asim Yousaf. The court was told that medical reports of eye procedures conducted at PIMS should 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 taken out of Adiala Jail since his arrest in August 2023 following convictions in multiple cases.
The defence said jail rules require families to be informed before medical procedures, but this was not done, raising concerns. It added that the family would not accept assessments by government doctors alone.
Amid the controversy, PIMS confirmed the treatment, saying: “In the recent past, Mr Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (age 74 years) reported reduced vision in his right eye.”
A senior PIMS ophthalmologist conducted a detailed examination at Adiala Jail, including slit-lamp evaluation, fundoscopy, measurement of intraocular pressure, laboratory tests and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of the retina.
