RAWALPINDI: The Special Anti-Terrorism Court, Rawalpindi, has ordered the confiscation of bail bonds worth Rs2 million for the non-appearance of Aleema Khanum, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan, in the case registered at Sadiqabad Police Station regarding the November 26 protest. It has also issued a notice for cancellation of her bail and bailable arrest warrants.
The court issued a contempt of court notice to the accused for not paying compensation to the prosecution witnesses, and also issued notices to both sureties. The hearing was adjourned until December 15 for further proceedings.
Aleema and her lawyers did not appear in court on Thursday, while Special Prosecutor Zaheer Shah and the prosecution witnesses were present along with the case file. The court called the case first at 10 am and then at 10:30 am, but neither the accused nor her lawyer appeared. The prosecution informed the court that no application for exemption from attendance had been filed by the accused.
The prosecution stated that while the submission of a brief by an accused implies they will be present when summoned, the accused has not appeared in court for several consecutive dates, causing the trial to be repeatedly adjourned. It was, therefore, requested that her bail bonds be confiscated.
The court, while accepting the prosecution’s request, ordered the forfeiture of the bail bonds and issued a notice for cancellation of bail. Along with the bailable arrest warrants for Aleema Khanum, notices were also issued to both her guarantors.
On this occasion, the prosecution pointed out that the court had ordered the accused to pay Rs10,000 each to the prosecution witnesses as compensation, but despite assurances on three or four occasions, the amount remains unpaid. The court consequently issued a contempt of court notice to the accused under Section 37 of the Anti-Terrorism Act for non-payment of the compensation.
Meanwhile, talking to the media outside the anti-terrorism court, Aleema said that Imran stands firm with the truth, no one dares touch him. “We are not afraid of water cannons. We cannot leave our brother alone,” she added.
Aleema said that “this is an illegal act, we were booked for absenteeism when we stayed late in the court today.” She contended that those who sit on TV shows and shout slogans are cowards. She said that everyone who is speaking against the PTI founder is known by name.
“They are speaking out of fear, they have no place to hide, the temperature was 9 degrees at 2:30 am and we were attacked with water three times,” she said recalling the other night’s incident.
“I have met Bushra Bibi for 40 minutes in two months and Imran for an hour; we are not afraid of water cannons, my sisters have injuries in their legs after falling,” she claimed. Aleema said that those who say what women were doing outside the jail at 2 am should be ashamed. She remarked, “We were sitting for our rights, there are companies of a few specific people. Import or export minerals, sugar and wheat whenever they want, the people are only their slaves, the founder of PTI was kept in solitary confinement.”
