Non-bailable warrants issued for Aleema Khan, Sohail Afridi

RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD: Courts on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in separate cases.

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi issued non-bailable warrants for Aleema Khan after she and her lawyer failed to appear for the hearing of a case related to the November 26 protest.

The court said that there was no justification for her absence and that she did not have any legal exemption.

During the proceedings, the court approved a request to include Salman Riaz of the National Counter Corruption Investigation Agency (NCCIA) among the witnesses. The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday.

In a separate case, the District and Sessions Court in Islamabad issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Sohail Afridi.

Senior Civil Judge Abbas Shah heard the case concerning allegations made by Afridi against state institutions, which the court deemed misleading and damaging to their reputation.

The court directed authorities to arrest Afridi and present him in court, and adjourned the case until February 21.

Afridi faces charges under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), with a case already registered by the NCCIA.