Aleema Khan, sister of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, said on Saturday that after seeing more and more PTI workers pouring into Islamabad for the November 24th protest, the government got panicky and assured party Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan that if the party would hold a sit-in at Sangjani near the federal capital rather than at D-Chowk, Imran would be released, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Speaking at the rostrum in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore, she said that she and PTI leaders and workers had been appearing in courts for the last one-and-a-half year in connection with different cases. “Earlier, the investigation officers (IOs) did not show up. And now judges are transferred. Due to which our bails are not confirmed,” she lamented.
The judge asked her what, in her opinion, were the reasons why bails were not confirmed. “Ever since I have been transferred to Lahore, bails of hundreds of PTI workers have been confirmed and now they have gone home.”
“Should I punish the police for not completing the investigation?” he questioned.
Then addressing the police officials present in the courtroom, the judge told them he was giving a last chance to wind up the probe by the next hearing.
Aleema went on to say that she had been nominated even in those cases, which were registered on October 4. “In those days, I was in jail,” she informed.
Imran’s sister said it was beyond comprehension why she was nominated when she was in jail.
Hearing this, the judge asked the IO why Aleema had been nominated.
The latter replied that she had incited the party workers against the state.
Later talking to the media, Aleema said that today she appeared in court in connection with four cases.
She lamented that the trial in the Jinnah House attack had not started as yet. “We don’t want bail. We want the trial in the case to begin.”
“People are rotting in jails. The truth of the matter is that the prosecutor does not have any evidence of our involvement in the case,” Imran’s sister added.
She said that when the trial would start even the judges would feel embarrassed when they would learn that one-and-a-half-year of innocent people were wasted.
Aleema said that everybody should appreciate the fact that the PTI founder had jelled different ethnic and sectarian groups of the nation together.
Speaking on the occasion, PTI leader Barrister Salman Akram Raja said that the party wanted peace in the country. “And for that, we will do whatever it takes,” he said, and added, “The political process must continue. There should be no obstacle in it.”
Aleema, sisters’ bail extended
Earlier the ATC extended the bail granted to Aleema and her sisters in different cases, including the Jinnah House attack case, until January 18.