Imran Khan’s sister’s ID, bank accounts frozen in protest case, court told

A Pakistani court has been informed that national authorities have blocked the identity card, passport and bank accounts of Aleema Khan - sister of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan - in connection with an anti-terrorism case linked to a political protest.

During Thursday’s hearing at an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi, officials said the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Passport and Immigration Directorate had disabled Aleema Khan’s national ID and passport. The State Bank of Pakistan has also instructed all commercial banks to freeze her accounts.

The case stems from a protest held on November 26, 2024, for which Aleema Khan and ten others were charged under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism laws.

According to the case registered at Rawalpindi’s Sadiq police station, the accused are alleged to have incited party workers to violence and disrupted government operations during the demonstration.

The court noted that Aleema had repeatedly failed to appear despite five non-bailable arrest warrants issued against her. Her surety bonds have been forfeited, and the court has now ordered the confiscation of property belonging to her guarantor.

Imran Khan, who served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 until his ouster in a 2022 no-confidence vote, has been imprisoned since 2023 on multiple charges.

His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has faced an ongoing crackdown following violent protests that erupted after his arrest, during which several military installations were attacked.