Hearing of Aleema, Uzma Khan’s bail pleas adjourned over non-submission of records

ISLAMABAD: Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain on Tuesday adjourned the hearing in the bail petitions of Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, sisters of PTI founder Imran Khan, due to the non-submission of records in the case filed at Kohsar Police Station.

Lawyers Niazullah Niazi, Ansar Kayani, and others appeared in court during Tuesday’s hearing. When the prosecution failed to present the case record, the court again called for the submission of the required documents.

Advocate Niazullah Niazi said that the record had yet to be presented at the previous hearing either, which had delayed the bail process. The court, reiterating the need for the case records, adjourned the proceedings.

Barrister Salman Safdar, Niazullah Niazi, Soheb Ilyas, and others appeared before the court. Barrister Safdar expressed his frustration, stating that he had been hearing since morning that the record was unavailable, and it reflected poorly on the proceedings. He questioned the prosecutor about the whereabouts of the record and the cause of the delay.

Despite the absence of the case records against the PTI founder’s sisters, Barrister Salman Safdar began presenting arguments on their post-arrest bail applications. Noreen Khanum, also came to the podium. Barrister Safdar argued that the case involved around 600 individuals, alleging that Aamir Mughal, Aleema Khan, and Uzma Khan incited violence using a megaphone. However, he emphasised that no specific role of any individual had been identified, and the charge was vague and general.

He further argued that the case for bail was strong on three points: both defendants are women, there is no direct evidence of conspiracy, and the charges are general. Barrister Safdar mentioned that even during the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, the emphasis was on moving the country forward, implying that the delay in the case was hindering progress. He cautioned that if the record was not produced, he would have to take the bail application to the high court.

Advocate Niazullah Niazi pointed out that the judge had granted bail to other women involved in the case without a full discussion, while Barrister Safdar added that the judge was listening carefully to his argument.

Barrister Safdar requested that the court approve the bail applications of Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan.

In response, the prosecutor said that without the case record, he was unable to present his arguments.

Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain instructed the prosecutor to obtain the record and reiterated that the court was awaiting its submission. As a result, the court once again adjourned the hearing with a directive to ensure the records are presented by the next hearing on October 25.