An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Aleema Khan on Tuesday after she failed to appear in court following the rejection of her exemption request.
ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah issued the warrant, stating that “repeated failure to appear despite summons constitutes obstruction of judicial proceedings.”
Aleema Khan is currently en route to Adiala Jail for the hearing of the Toshakhana-II case. According to police sources, a team will proceed to Adiala Jail with the non-bailable arrest warrants. Following the conclusion of the hearing, Aleema Khan is expected to be arrested.
On September 18, ATC granted interim bail to Aleema Khan in the November 26 D-Chowk protest case, with 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.
Read: ATC grants Aleema interim bail in D-Chowk protest case
The case being heard in the ATC is registered at Sadiqabad Police Station, which includes charges of protesting against the government, chanting anti-government slogans, vandalism and stone-pelting.
D-Chowk Protest
On November 13, Imran Khan 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 took place in D-Chowk, Islamabad, where supporters travelled from different provinces to heed Khan’s call.
The state rejected any possibility of negotiation, and an operation was conducted against the protestors, prompting the PTI leadership to flee the scene. The protest ended with the operation on November 26.
Due to her failure to appear in court after her exemption request was rejected, the Anti-Terrorism Court has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Aleema Khan.
ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah issued the warrant, stating that “repeated failure to appear despite summons constitutes obstruction of judicial proceedings.”
Aleema Khan is currently en route to Adiala Jail for the hearing of the Toshakhana-II case. According to police sources, a team will proceed to Adiala Jail with the non-bailable arrest warrants. Following the conclusion of the hearing, Aleema Khan is expected to be arrested.
Cases Charged
At Sadiqabad Police Station, one case was filed for vandalism and rioting, in which Aleema Khan is nominated as an accused and was on pre-arrest bail.
Hearings on pre-arrest bail petitions filed by three PTI MNAs — Asif Khan, Sajid Khan Mohammad and one other — in the November 26 D-Chowk protest case were heard on September 16 in the Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad.
All three bail pleas were rejected by Judge 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 related to the D-Chowk protest. Imran Khan has been accused of seven, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, has been charged with 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 and Salman Akram Raja. In 26 of these cases, the entire central leadership of PTI is nominated as accused.
All the accused were arrested between November 24 and 27, while bail approvals began six months later, starting from May this year and concluding on July 31.
On November 24, police registered cases against PTI chief Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, senior PTI leader Dr Arif Alvi, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 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.
A total of seven cases have been filed in Rawalpindi District against Imran Khan in connection with the 26 November D-Chowk protest.
However, he may also be nominated and arrested in the remaining 22 cases at any time. At Nasirabad Police Station, a case has been filed for firing, vandalism and a constable’s murder. At New Town Police Station, two cases have been filed against Khan for vandalism, rioting, arson and siege.
Read more: ATC rejects pre-arrest bail for three PTI MNAs
On November 25, a policeman was killed during clashes with protesters at the Jandial checkpoint near Taxila, as PTI supporters continued to push through roadblocks and barricades on major highways towards Islamabad.
Constable Muhammad Mubashir, aged 46, who had come from Muzaffargarh to assist the Rawalpindi police, sustained critical injuries during the clashes and was taken to DHQ Rawalpindi, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
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