The special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the November 26 protest case registered against Aleema Khan, sister of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, until July 9. The adjournment came after the prosecution challenged the legal status of her defence witness, citing a Lahore High Court (LHC) precedent.
Case Background and Court Proceedings
The case, registered at the Sadiqabad Police Station, was taken up with defence counsel Faisal Malik and Senior Prosecutor Zaheer Shah appearing before the court. During the Tuesday proceedings, the court accepted a plea by Aleema to present Fatehullah Burki as her defence witness. However, the prosecution immediately challenged this move, arguing that Burki's appearance as a witness was not legally valid under a previous LHC ruling.
Prosecution's Challenge and Court's Decision
Senior Prosecutor Zaheer Shah submitted that the LHC precedent barred the inclusion of certain individuals as defence witnesses without prior approval. The court, after hearing both sides, decided to adjourn the hearing to July 9 to allow time for a detailed review of the prosecution's objection. The defence counsel maintained that Burki's testimony was crucial to establishing Aleema's innocence, but the court opted to defer the matter.
Impact and Next Steps
The adjournment means the case will remain unresolved until the next hearing, prolonging the legal proceedings for Aleema Khan. The court is expected to rule on the prosecution's challenge on July 9, which could determine whether Burki can testify. The case stems from a protest on November 26, 2023, in which Aleema was allegedly involved, though details of the charges remain under judicial scrutiny.
