The legal battle saw a new chapter earlier this week when Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain approved the bail applications, effectively concluding their physical remand and paving the way for their release
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, sisters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, were released on bail from Jhelum Jail on Friday and promptly journeyed to Islamabad. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad granted bail to the two women, approving their release upon surety bonds of Rs20,000 each.
The sisters’ detention had become a focal point of public discourse following their arrest on October 4. The charges stemmed from a case registered at the Kohsar Police Station, linked to a PTI-led protest at D-Chowk in Islamabad. The arrests took place amid a tense backdrop, as PTI supporters convened in the area in response to the party’s call for a demonstration.
The legal battle saw a new chapter earlier this week when Judge Abul Hasanat Zulqarnain approved the bail applications, effectively concluding their physical remand and paving the way for their release. However, despite the anticipation surrounding their discharge, sources reported that no senior PTI leaders or party officials were present outside Jhelum Jail when the sisters walked free, a notable absence that underscored the complex dynamics currently playing out within the party.
Their legal representation had raised pointed concerns about procedural irregularities in the case. On their initial court appearance following a one-day remand, PTI lawyer Niazullah Niazi argued that Aleema and Uzma had been detained unlawfully, noting that they were only presented in court two days after their arrest, which he argued violated their legal rights. Niazi’s statements resonated with the party’s criticisms of recent crackdowns on PTI members and supporters, who have faced a wave of arrests and detentions following the May 9 protests.
