Court rejects police plea, sends Aleema, Uzma Khan to jail on judicial remand

ISLAMABAD: Judge Tahir Abbas Supra of the Anti-Terrorism Court on Saturday rejected Kohsar police request for an extension in the physical remand of Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, the sisters of PTI founder. The court sent them to Adiala jail on judicial remand.

The court also issued notices on the bail applications of Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan. During the hearing, police personnel attempted to forcibly remove Aleema Khan from the courtroom, leading to a clash between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyers and police officers. Amid the commotion, the judge summoned Aleema and Uzma to the rostrum and ordered all irrelevant persons to leave the courtroom immediately. Aleema Khan requested the court’s permission to meet her family members. The court directed the relevant authorities to allow both sisters to meet their families and adjourned the hearing.

Upon the completion of their physical remand, Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan were brought to court under tight security by federal police.

PTI lawyers Usman Riaz Gul, Niazullah Niazi, Faisal Farid Chaudhary, Sardar Masroof, Amina Ali, and others, along with prosecutor Raja Naveed, were present in court. Niazullah Niazi read the October 7 court order, saying that everything was clear and that the bailiff’s report was on record. Judge Tahir Abbas Supra asked Niazullah Niazi to guide the people present in court.

Prosecutor Raja Naveed sought an additional 15-day physical remand, stating that a mobile phone and other materials still needed to be recovered. However, the court rejected this request and refused to allow the USB evidence to be played in court. Usman Riaz Gul argued that his defence depended on the contents of USB, but the judge reiterated his decision, instructing Gul to proceed with his arguments. Judge Tahir Abbas Supra asked the prosecution to explain what had been recovered during the seven days of physical remand. The prosecutor responded that the investigation was ongoing to uncover the motives behind the alleged planning, including matters related to explosives.

The judge, however, expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the prosecution needed to account for every hour spent during the remand. He questioned whether the data from the mobile phone could still be retrieved without the physical device. The SHO of Kohsar police insisted that he was in charge, not a junior officer.

Ultimately, the court rejected the request for further physical remand and ordered that Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan be sent to Adiala jail on judicial remand.

Heated exchanges took place between the lawyers and police officials, prompting the court to expel all unrelated persons from the courtroom. The court also allowed family meetings for both sisters. The lawyers subsequently filed bail applications for Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, upon which the court issued notices and adjourned the hearing until October 19.