May 9 riots: Imran’s sisters appear before JIT

Both disassociate themselves from the incidents of vandalism on May 9

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan's sisters, Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, have submitted their statements before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in four cases related to the May 9 vandalism.

Insiders familiar with their appearance before the investigators on Friday revealed that both of them disassociated themselves from the incidents of vandalism on May 9.

They revealed that Uzma acknowledged her participation in the demonstrations outside Jinnah House (the corps commander house in Lahore); however, she distanced herself from the destruction and chaos that ensued within the premises.

Aleema also distanced herself from the events of May 9 in which damages were inflicted upon government and military properties.

In her statement, Aleema stated that she was present at Lahore’s Zaman Park, Imran’s residence, at the time of the attack on Jinnah House.

The JIT team had summoned both the sisters to record their statements.

Earlier this month, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) had granted interim bail till Aug 8 to Uzma and Aleema in the four cases.

The court ordered both sisters to submit surety bonds of Rs100,000 each for availing the relief, besides asking them to join the investigations.

Uzma and Aleema had approached the court for bail after issuance of their arrest warrants in cases of attacking Jinnah House and setting ablaze a container at Kalma Chowk and PML-N office in Model Town, during May 9 vandalism.

The alleged PTI workers ransacked public property and government installations after Imran was arrested by the paramilitary Rangers from inside the Islamabad High Court premises on May 9 in a graft case.