ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday declared former opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan a proclaimed offender after he repeatedly failed to appear in proceedings related to a protest case registered on October 4 last year.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra noted that the PTI leader had been issued multiple summons but did not comply, leading the court to initiate proclamation proceedings. The court also ordered authorities to provide complete details of Mr Ayub’s movable and immovable properties, while directing the relevant departments to block his passport and Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).
The case pertains to a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) demonstration for which Mr Ayub and several senior party members have been nominated under anti-terrorism charges. Earlier this year, prosecutors submitted a challan naming multiple PTI figures, accusing them of inciting violence and causing public disruption during the protest. The court adjourned the hearing while instructing authorities to complete the formalities associated with the proclamation process.
Aleema Khan briefly detained
Separately, courtroom tensions flared in Rawalpindi when Aleema Khan — sister of former prime minister Imran Khan — was briefly taken into custody by women police officers during proceedings in a separate protest-related case. Aleema is among 11 individuals charged with arson and obstructing government operations during a demonstration on Nov 26 last year.
She appeared before ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah, where the court was informed that arguments would be heard on an application filed by another accused, Safai, questioning the court’s jurisdiction. The judge noted that all 11 accused, including Aleema, had already been indicted.
Prosecutor Zaheer Shah told the court that the charges fell under terrorism-related provisions due to allegations of arson and encirclement during the protest. During the hearing, Aleema attempted to leave the courtroom, stating that her lawyers were occupied in the Supreme Court. Police officers stopped her, insisting that she could not exit without the judge’s explicit permission.
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Mr Shah maintained that Aleema was “in judicial custody under Section 351,” while her counsel Faisal Malik objected strongly, arguing that she had voluntarily surrendered and that no custody order existed. The defence termed the police action “unacceptable” and urged the court to take notice.
Judge Shah remarked that the situation might have been avoided had the defence arrived on time. The prosecution, meanwhile, accused the defence of creating hurdles in the trial.
The court later allowed Aleema to file her bail bonds and ordered all 11 accused to pay Rs10,000 each to eight police witnesses for delays. Defence lawyers also requested that accounts belonging to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust and Namal University be unfrozen — a matter the prosecution linked to actions by the accused.
After hearing arguments, the court adjourned the proceedings until Dec 1.
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