Pakistan Court Issues Arrest Warrant Against Aleema Khan Over Protest

Aleema Khan Faces Arrest Over Pakistan Protests

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Aleema Khan, sister of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in connection with a protest held in Islamabad last November. The warrants were issued after she failed to appear before the court despite earlier directives. Her two guarantors also received arrest warrants, and all three are ordered to be produced before the court on Wednesday.

The case relates to a protest at D-Chowk in Islamabad on November 24, 2024, involving charges of protesting against the government, chanting anti-government slogans, vandalism, and stone-pelting. ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah conducted the hearing.

A show-cause notice was issued to Superintendent of Police (SP), Rawal, for failing to execute the arrest warrants. Aleema’s defence counsel sought a one-day exemption, citing difficulties in travel and daily affairs after her bank accounts, Computerised National Identity Card and passport were reportedly blocked. The court did not accept the plea.

Aleema Khan had previously skipped multiple hearings and appeared only after property seizure orders and several arrest warrants were issued. She is among those nominated as accused in protest-related cases filed following the November demonstrations.

The protests followed Imran Khan’s 'final call' for nationwide demonstrations demanding the restoration of the PTI electoral mandate, release of party leaders, and reversal of constitutional changes. The D-Chowk protest ended on November 26 after a security operation, with several cases registered across Rawalpindi district. In total, 29 cases linked to the protest have been filed in the district, with Imran Khan named in several and his wife, Bushra Bibi, charged in all 29 cases.