ATC issues non-bailable arrest warrant for Aleema Khan for eighth time

A non-bailable arrest warrant has been issued by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi for Aleema Khan for the eighth consecutive time on Thursday, due to her continued absences.

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.

The court directed the Chairman Capital Development Authority and the Islamabad Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa to provide details of Aleema Khan’s properties. The court also ordered the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan Chairperson, Akif Saeed, to submit records of any companies or shares registered in her name.

The court, due to her failure to appear despite issuing multiple arrest warrants, issued orders on October 24 to the Director General of NADRA to block Aleema Khan’s CNIC, instructed the Director General of Passports to block her passport, and ordered the Governor of the State Bank to freeze all her bank accounts.

ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah has observed that Aleema's repeated absences amount to obstruction of judicial proceedings.

According to the report presented today in the ATC, on her frozen bank accounts was presented, confirming that 12 accounts belonging to Aleema Khan have been frozen, including those in Bank Alfalah and MCB, with Rs124 million in one MCB account.

The court also issued arrest warrants for the UBL Head Office Manager in Karachi and Habib Metro Bank Manager Syed Mansoor Hussain for failing to submit reports despite repeated court notices.

Soneri Bank and Bank of Punjab also failed to submit reports and were issued contempt of court notices.

Read: ATC reissues non-bailable warrants for Aleema

The prosecution team argued that Aleema is deliberately making a mockery of the judicial process. The court has not been able to record witness statements due to Aleema's continued failure to show for her hearings.

Earlier, non-bailable warrants were issued on October 14, 20, and 22 after Aleema failed to attend proceedings. On October 14, the court also rejected her lawyer’s request for exemption from personal appearance, noting she was to be formally charged in the case.

Read more: NADRA blocks Aleema Khan's CNIC, Passport

The latest non-bailable warrant, on November 4, was reissued for Aleema Khan and her legal team for the seventh time following her continued absence from court proceedings.

On September 18, ATC granted interim bail to Aleema in the November 26 D-Chowk protest case, with judge Amjad Ali Shah noting no clear evidence against her.

Aleema, the sister of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, was directed to submit surety bonds of Rs50,000 and appear at hearings in the November 26 cases.

The hearing has been adjourned until November 10.

D-Chowk Protest

On November 13, 2023, 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”.

Also read: Rawalpindi ATC issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Aleema Khan over repeated absences

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.

A notice was also sent to her guarantor, summoning them to appear before the court, and the court also cancelled Aleema Khan's surety bonds.