Pakistan anti-terror court issues fourth non-bailable arrest warrant for Imran Khan sister Aleema Khan

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Wednesday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Aleema Khan, the sister of former prime minister Imran Khan, for repeatedly failing to appear before the court in a case related to last year’s protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

According to Dawn newspaper, the Rawalpindi-based Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) issued the warrant after Aleema Khan once again failed to attend the hearing, according to Dawn. This marks the fourth time the court has issued such an order against her in the case stemming from PTI-led demonstrations on November 26, 2023.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, ten of the eleven accused appeared before the court, with Aleema being the only absentee. The court noted her continued disregard for its summons and directed law enforcement to produce her before the next hearing.

At the previous hearing, the court had instructed Superintendent of Police (SP) Saad Arshad to arrest Aleema and present her before the bench on October 22. It also ordered the confiscation of her surety bond and verification of the property documents submitted by her guarantor.

POLICE OFFICERS WARNED OVER BOGUS REPORT

In addition to the warrant, the ATC issued a show-cause notice to SP Saad Arshad and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Naeem for filing what it described as a “bogus report.” The court summoned both officers in their personal capacities for “contempt of court.”

According to the court’s observations, the police report claimed that Aleema had “gone into hiding.” However, the court noted that she had been seen at Adiala Jail, where her brother Imran Khan is imprisoned, and had also appeared on various social media platforms in recent days.

“The report presented before this court does not reflect the facts,” the judge said, according to the Dawn newspaper.

During the hearing, the ATC also confiscated the surety bonds of Aleema’s guarantor due to her continued absence. The court directed her to submit new surety bonds worth Rs 1 million as a condition for compliance.

Earlier, her lawyer’s plea for exemption from personal appearance had been rejected. The court ruled that Aleema was required to appear in person because she was to be formally charged with criminal offences linked to the PTI protest.

PROTESTS LED TO MASS ARRESTS

The November 26, 2023 protest had seen more than 10,000 PTI supporters enter Islamabad, defying a government ban on public gatherings. They clashed with approximately 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel deployed to prevent their entry.

The violent clashes prompted the authorities to register several cases against PTI leaders and activists under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The ATC adjourned the hearing until November 24, ordering the police to ensure Aleema Khan’s appearance and warning that further non-compliance would be dealt with “in accordance with the law”.

– Ends

With inputs from agencies