ATC orders arrest of Aleema Khan in PTI's Nov 26 protest case

RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Monday issued warrant for the arrest of Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan, and produce her before the court on October 22 in connection with cases related to the party's protest on November 26 last year.

ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah issued non-bailable arrest warrant for Aleema Khan for the third time after she failed to appear before the court despite repeated summons.

The development came after 10 accused, including Aleema, had been indicted in the Sadiqabad Police Station case with regard to PTI’s November 26 protest.

The court indicted Imran's sister and nine other accused, including Sajid Qureshi, Atif Riaz, Faheem Razaq, Adalat Khan Qureshi, Mursalin Kiani, Tayyab Abbas Shah, Umar Shah Muhammad Hanif, and Ali Raza.

During the hearing today, 10 other accused named in the same case appeared before the court, while five prosecution witnesses also recorded their statements.

The Rawalpindi ATC also issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Aleema’s guarantor, Umer Sharif. The court further instructed the Pindi deputy commissioner to verify the property documents submitted by her guarantor.

The November 26, 2024, protest was aimed at building pressure on the government to release the PTI founder. The 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been behind bars since August 2023 after he was booked in multiple cases ranging from corruption to terrorism since his ouster from power via the opposition’s no-trust motion in April 2022.

The former ruling party’s three-day protests were abruptly ended after fierce clashes erupted between the law enforcers and the protesters, which resulted in the martyrdom of at least three Rangers personnel and a policeman.