LHC reserves Hammad Azhar access verdict; ATC reserves Aleema case
Two courts in Punjab reserved verdicts on Monday and Tuesday in separate cases involving PTI leaders Hammad Azhar and Aleema Khan, both linked to the November 26 protest.
Two courts in Punjab reserved verdicts on separate cases involving Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders this week, according to reports from Dawn and ARY News.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday reserved its verdict on a petition seeking access to PTI leader Hammad Azhar for his family and lawyers, Dawn reported. A two-member bench headed by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi heard the petition filed by Hammad Azhar's mother, Ishrat Azhar. Barrister Abuzar Salman Niazi, representing the petitioner, told the court that an application seeking permission to meet Hammad Azhar had earlier been filed before an anti-terrorism court (ATC), but that court did not pass any order and merely forwarded the plea to police.
In Rawalpindi, an ATC on Tuesday reserved its verdict in the case against Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, related to the November 26, 2024 protest, ARY News reported. Judge Amjad Ali Shah reserved the decision after hearing final arguments from Special Prosecutor Zaheer Shah. The verdict is scheduled to be announced on Wednesday.
The prosecution alleged that Aleema Khan planned the November 26 protest and conspired with Imran Khan during a meeting at Adiala Jail on November 22, 2024. According to ARY News, the prosecutor said Aleema Khan addressed the public through media talks after meeting Imran Khan and incited people to participate in violent protests. She was also accused of violating an Islamabad High Court order issued on November 21, 2024, and attempting to pressure and threaten the government by mobilising the party.
The prosecution presented videos, statements and material relating to Aleema Khan's meetings before the court and said forensic analysis of her videos and statements had been conducted. It alleged that a police official was killed during the violent protests carried out on her instructions, and public and private property and vehicles were set on fire. The prosecution further said a Joint Investigation Team found Aleema Khan responsible and that the protests caused billions of rupees in economic losses. It argued that freedom of expression could not be used as a basis for inciting violence.
ARY News also reported that Aleema Khan was detained in Lahore on Sunday after the city's deputy commissioner ordered her detention for 30 days under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. Police confirmed she was taken to Kot Lakhpat Jail. The detention came ahead of PTI's planned September 27 countrywide protest and march to Islamabad, which the party says is aimed at demanding Imran Khan's release.
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