RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday deferred the announcement of its verdict in the November 2024 protest case involving 10 accused, including Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, after the judge went on leave.

The court, which had fixed September 25 for announcing the verdict, informed the lawyers representing the accused about the postponement.

Judge Amjad Ali Shah had reserved the verdict on September 22. Following the postponement, the court has set October 1 as the new date for its announcement.

Meanwhile, lawyer Faisal Malik, representing Aleema, expressed reservations about the court’s decision to reserve the verdict. He argued that the court had not heard the defence’s arguments in the case.

Speaking to the media outside the Rawalpindi ATC, Malik said he had arrived at the court at 8am during the previous hearing and requested an exemption from personal appearance for his client.

“The court cannot deliver a verdict without hearing the arguments of Aleema Khan’s counsel,” he said, adding that he had no objection to the prosecution presenting its arguments.

“No arguments have been heard on behalf of Aleema Khan in this case,” Malik said.

He argued that the reserved verdict was unlawful because the accused’s counsel had not been allowed to present arguments.

“Let us be heard before the verdict is delivered. There is no evidence against Aleema Khan in this case,” he claimed.

Malik added that he had been present in court and respected the judicial process. He, however, expressed confidence that the court would ensure justice.

The case

The case came to be known as the November 26 protest case. The protest saw more than 10,000 PTI supporters enter Islamabad in 2024, defying a ban on public gatherings and a lockdown, and clash with around 20,000 security personnel deployed to prevent them from advancing.

A day of clashes between security forces and protesters in the city’s Red Zone ended with the PTI leadership retreating, after which the party announced that it was calling off its planned protest sit-in “for the time being”.

Subsequently, cases were registered against several PTI leaders under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Two of the cases were registered at Taxila police station and one each at Sadiqabad and Naseerabad police stations.

Aleema, along with 10 others, was booked in the case registered at Sadiqabad police station.