Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, was released on bail by a special anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. She had been taken into temporary judicial custody in connection with the November 26 protest case registered at Sadiqabad police station.
During the hearing, tensions flared as police attempted to take Aleema Khan into custody, while her defence counsel objected strongly. The state prosecutor defended the police action, citing the presence of eight prosecution witnesses and claiming that the accused’s conduct was disrupting the trial.
The judge, noting that the situation appeared to be a misunderstanding, confirmed that Aleema Khan was present and free in the courtroom. The court adjourned the hearing until December 1, allowing her lawyers to submit a formal application regarding police conduct and the freezing of institutional bank accounts.
The defence requested the defreezing of accounts belonging to Shaukat Khanum and Namal University Mianwali, arguing that institutional accounts should not be frozen due to alleged personal misconduct. Aleema Khan emphasized that freezing these accounts would affect the future of children linked to these organisations.
Speaking to the media outside the court, Aleema Khan expressed faith in the judicial system and called for justice. She criticized the actions of state bank officials who froze the accounts despite no court orders, highlighting that four Shaukat Khanum accounts had been affected while she served as an honorary board member.
She also addressed the historical November 26 protest, stating that it was peaceful and that women and children were present. Aleema Khan paid tribute to the martyrs of the protest, calling for accountability and condemning what she described as state oppression.
The court proceedings and media statements underline the ongoing legal and political tension surrounding Aleema Khan, the Shaukat Khanum Foundation, and broader issues of civil rights and governance in Pakistan.
In other news read more about: Islamabad Court Approves Bail for Imran Khan’s Sisters
