Aleema's warrants withdrawn

ATC issues notices on her plea to unfreeze her bank accounts

RAWALPINDI:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday withdrew arrest warrants previously issued for Aleema Khan, the sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, in the November 26, 2024 protest case.

ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah withdrew the warrants after Aleema appeared before the court and submitted a compliance report. The court directed her to furnish fresh surety bonds worth Rs1 million each, following which the warrants were cancelled.

The case pertains to a protest staged by the PTI in November last year and the court had issued arrest warrants for Aleema multiple times over her repeated absence. Aleema denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the charges are politically motivated.

At a previous hearing, the judge had also directed the relevant authorities to block Aleema's national identity card (CNIC) and passport, and freeze her bank accounts.

During today's hearing, Aleema moved an application seeking a reversal of the freeze on her bank accounts, including joint accounts associated with the National University of Modern Languages.

She argued that the freezing orders had caused her undue hardship and were issued without proper legal justification. In response, Judge Shah issued notices to the prosecution, seeking their response on the application.

The court will examine whether the freezing orders were warranted and whether there was a sufficient legal basis to maintain them. Subsequently, the judge adjourned the hearing until November 26, directing the prosecution to submit its reply before then.

The state counsel strongly opposed the cancellation of warrants and the restoration of bank accounts. However, the court cancelled all outstanding warrants, ordered Aleema Khan's mandatory appearance on the next date, and also summoned all five witnesses for the upcoming hearing.

After the hearing, when a journalist asked her about PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah's condemnation of her alleged torture outside Adiala Jail last week, Aleema said the PML-N people were thugs. "First they commit thuggery and then condemn it."