Aleema Khan
A Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court (ATC) has dismissed a request filed by Aleema Khan, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, seeking permission to travel abroad. The decision was announced by Judge Amjad Ali Shah after hearing detailed arguments from both the defence and the prosecution.
Aleema Khan had submitted an application requesting a three-week exemption from personal court appearance to allow her to travel overseas for fundraising activities on behalf of Namal University. The plea was based on the argument that her appearance was not mandatory at this stage, as the challan (formal charge sheet) had not yet been submitted in the case.
Defence counsel Faisal Malik contended that Aleema Khan’s name had already been ordered removed from the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) by the Islamabad High Court, and that she had no intention of absconding.
He argued that the request was reasonable, limited in duration, and in line with reliefs granted in other similar cases. Supporting the plea, Advocate Ali Bukhari highlighted precedents where courts had allowed exemptions for individuals in comparable legal situations.
However, Prosecutor Zaheer Shah firmly opposed the request. He informed the court that Aleema Khan is currently facing as many as 11 cases registered in Rawalpindi and has not been granted bail in any of them. He emphasized that her pre-arrest bail application is scheduled for hearing on May 21, and allowing her to leave the country in the meantime would be inappropriate.
The prosecution further argued that court appearances are mandatory, especially when no bail has been secured. It stressed that travel exemptions can only be considered on urgent medical grounds, not for engagements such as fundraising events.
After considering the arguments, the court rejected Aleema Khan’s plea, reaffirming the importance of physical presence during active legal proceedings. The decision underscores the judiciary’s cautious approach in cases involving multiple legal charges and ongoing bail applications.
