An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Tuesday reissued non-bailable arrest warrants for Aleema Khan, the sister of incarcerated former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, and her two guarantors in connection with the November 26 protest case.
The court also issued a show-cause notice to the Superintendent of Police (SP) Rawal for failing to execute the non-bailable arrest warrants against Aleema Khan.
Non-bailable arrest warrants were issued for her two guarantors, Nadeem Bilal, son of Sher Khan, and Wahid Mehmood, son of Muhammad Irfan, with the court directing SP Rawal to arrest and present them as well.
The court directed SP Rawal to appear on Wednesday and explain why Aleema Khan was not arrested and produced before the court, despite clear orders.
It further ordered that Aleema Khan be arrested and presented before it on Wednesday, February 4, without fail, after rejecting her application seeking exemption from appearance.
The case is registered at Sadiqabad Police Station and relates to a protest held at D-Chowk in Islamabad on November 24, 2024.
The proceedings stem from non-compliance with earlier court orders regarding Aleema Khan’s arrest in the case.
ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah conducted the hearing.
Read: ATC issues non-bailable warrants for Aleema
D-Chowk Protest
On November 13, 2024, Imran Khan made a “final call” for nationwide protests on November 24, demanding the restoration of PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of imprisoned party members, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which he claimed had empowered a “dictatorial regime”.
The protest took place at D-Chowk in Islamabad, where supporters from different provinces travelled to heed Khan’s call.
The state rejected any possibility of negotiation, and an operation was conducted against the protesters, prompting the PTI leadership to flee the scene. The protest ended with the operation on November 26.
Also read: ATC rejects pre-arrest bail for three PTI MNAs
Cases charged
At Sadiqabad Police Station, one case was filed for vandalism and rioting, in which Aleema Khan is nominated as an accused and was on pre-arrest bail.
Hearings on pre-arrest bail petitions filed by three PTI MNAs — Asif Khan, Sajid Khan Mohammad and one other — in the November 26 D-Chowk protest case were heard on September 16 in the Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad.
All three bail pleas were rejected by Judge Tahir Abbas Supra because the petitioners had failed to appear in court.
Similarly, protest-related cases are also registered at Civil Lines Police Station, Taxila Police Station and Waris Khan Police Station. A total of 29 cases have been filed in Rawalpindi District related to the D-Chowk protest. Imran Khan has been accused of seven, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, has been charged with all 29.
