Rawalpindi’s Anti-Terrorism Special Court on Monday issued orders to restore the bank accounts of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust (SKMT) and Namal University in Mianwali.
Judge Amjad Hussain Shah gave these directives in a case related to the protest on November 26 last year, in which Alima Khan, sister of imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, is facing legal proceedings.
SKMT, a charitable organization established under Pakistan’s Societies Registration Act of 1860, and Namal University were both founded by Imran Khan.
According to details, the bank accounts of both institutions were mistakenly frozen following the issuance of an arrest warrant against Alima Khan in the same case.
Multiple arrest warrants had been issued against Alima for repeatedly failing to appear in court. During the hearing on October 24, the court had also ordered the blocking of her national identity card and passport and the freezing of all her bank accounts.
In today’s hearing, Judge Amjad Shah heard arguments on Alima’s request for the restoration of her bank accounts. Representatives of SKMT also appeared and presented arguments in favor of unfreezing the accounts.
From the prosecution side, Zaheer Shah clarified that the prosecution had never (verbally or in writing) requested the freezing of SKMT or Namal University’s bank accounts. He also pointed out that the court had not issued any specific order directing the relevant authorities to freeze the bank accounts of the two institutions.
