Rawalpindi ATC defers verdict in Aleema Khan's November 26 protest case for fifth time

Judge says verdict to be announced next month as 11 accused produced in court

RAWALPINDI:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Monday deferred its verdict for the fifth time in a case against Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, over the November 26, 2024 protest.

ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah deferred the verdict, which will now be announced on November 26. The case against Aleema was registered at Sadiqabad police station and relates to a protest held at D-Chowk in Islamabad on November 24, 2024.

Aleema could not appear in court as she remains detained. All 11 other accused in the case were present in the courtroom, along with defence counsel Faisal Mahmood Malik and the prosecutor.

The case relates to the “final call” by Imran for nationwide demonstrations demanding restoration of PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of jailed party leaders and reversal of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which he said had empowered a “dictatorial regime”. Supporters from across the country gathered at D-Chowk. The government ruled out negotiations and launched an operation against protesters, prompting PTI leaders to flee. The protest ended on November 26.

Read: LHC closes Aleema Khan facilities petition

Aleema, along with Imran's other two sisters, Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khan, were detained in September under Section 3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, 1960. The Lahore deputy commissioner issued the 30-day detention orders. The orders cited police reports alleging that the women’s activities posed a threat to public safety and the maintenance of public order.

The sisters subsequently challenged their detention in the Lahore High Court (LHC), seeking the annulment of the orders and their immediate release. On September 25, the court declined to suspend the detention notifications against Uzma and Noreen at that stage and sought responses from the relevant authorities.