The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi granted interim bail to Aleema Khan in the November 26 D-Chowk protest case, with ATC judge Amjad Ali Shah noting no clear evidence against her.
The sister of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf founder was directed to submit surety bonds of Rs50,000 and appear at hearings in the November 26 cases.
The case, registered at Sadiqabad Police Station, lists charges including protesting against the government, chanting anti-government slogans, vandalism, and stone-pelting.
Aleema faces 12 cases in Rawalpindi and has secured bail in only one. Her sister, Dr Uzma, faces two cases, with no pre- or post-arrest bail granted in the others.
Read: ATC rejects pre-arrest bail for three PTI MNAs
After the hearing, Aleema Khan told the media that many PTI workers charged in the November 26 cases could not attend the court hearing due to severe flooding. She requested exemptions for those affected by the floods.
“Today we requested the court to exempt attendance for accused persons from flood-hit and operation-affected areas,” Aleema Khan said.
Regarding the case, she stated that protest is a constitutional right and cannot be criminalised. “No court can rule against a peaceful protest. Any judge who does so acts unconstitutionally,” she added.
D-Chowk Protest
On November 13, Imran made a “final call” for nationwide protests to be held on November 24, demanding the restoration of PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of imprisoned party members, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which he claimed had empowered a “dictatorial regime.”
The protest was held in D-Chowk, Islamabad, where people travelled from different provinces to honour Khan's call. The state had rejected any room for negotiation and an operation was conducted against the protestors, and the PTI leadership fled the scene. The protest ended with the operation on November 26.
On November 25, a policeman was killed during clashes with protesters at the Jandial checkpoint near Taxila, as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters continued to push through roadblocks and barricades on major highways to advance towards Islamabad.
Constable Muhammad Mubashir (46), who had come from Muzaffargarh to assist the Rawalpindi police, sustained critical injuries during the clashes and was shifted to DHQ Rawalpindi, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Cases charged
In the Sadiqabad Police Station, one case was filed for vandalism and rioting; in this case, Aleema Khan is nominated as an accused and was on pre-arrest bail.
Hearings on pre-arrest bail petitions filed by three PTI MNAs, including Asif Khan, Sajid Khan Mohammad and one other, in the November 26 D-Chowk protest case, were heard on September 16 (Monday) in the anti-terrorism court in Islamabad.
All three bail pleas were rejected by Judge Tahir Abbas Supra due to the fact that the petitioners did not present themselves in court.
Similarly, protest-related cases are also registered at the Civil Lines Police Station, Taxila Police Station, and Waris Khan Police Station. There are a total of 29 cases filed in Rawalpindi District related to the D-Chowk protest. Khan has been accused of seven, whereas his wife Bushra Bibi, has been charged under all 29.
In these 29 cases, bail has already been granted to a total of 1,383 accused persons. Among them are Ali Amin Gandapur, Azam Swati, Salar Kakar, Salman Akram Raja; in these 26 cases, the entire central leadership of PTI is nominated as accused.
All the accused were arrested on November 24, 25, 26 and 27, while the bail approvals began six months later, starting from May of this year, and were completed by July 31.
Read more: D Chowk: the place where rage meets politics
On November 24, police registered cases against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, senior PTI leader Dr. Arif Alvi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, and hundreds of senior PTI lawmakers, leaders, and workers across Punjab over violent protests.
The FIRs were filed under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). Imran Khan's bail petitions in seven cases related to the November 26 incidents were filed by his lawyers. In these cases, Khan was formally arrested and sent to judicial custody.
There are a total of seven cases filed in Rawalpindi District against Imran Khan in relation to the November 26 D-Chowk protest, however, at any time, he may also be nominated and arrested in the remaining 22 cases. In Nasirabad Police Station, there is a case of firing, vandalism and a constable's murder. In New Town Police Station, there are two cases filed against Khan for vandalism, rioting, arson and siege.
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