ISLAMABAD ; Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has said the government has no authority to block Qasim and Suleman — the sons of the jailed former prime minister — from entering Pakistan.
Speaking to reporters after appearing in court, Aleema alleged that the cases registered against her and other PTI leaders were politically motivated. “Several cases are pending against us, and here, bail is never granted.
Arrest warrants have even been issued against me in a murder case. They will arrest us whenever they wish. My only ‘crime’ is that I delivered Imran Khan’s message to the people. Is that a crime?” she questioned.
She said she would tell the judge that although he might be acting under certain pressures, such compulsion could not last forever. “If we have committed an offence, then punish us; if not, give us justice. People have lost faith in the judicial system, and it is the judges’ duty to restore that trust,” she remarked.
Aleema announced that PTI would stage a political show of strength on August 14, stating, “Imran Khan is fighting for the nation’s freedom, not his own.”
Commenting on the travel status of Imran Khan’s sons, she clarified that both Qasim and Suleman possess Nikop (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis) and not standard CNICs.
“They have applied for visas using their British passports. The government cannot stop them from coming to Pakistan,” she said. Aleema added that they would contact the relevant embassy for visas, and if refused, the brothers would make further attempts.
“We will even contact Talal Chaudhry for visa facilitation,” she quipped, noting that the Interior Ministry had shifted responsibility to the Foreign Ministry.
Aleema Khan appeared before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in connection with the November 26 protest case registered at Sadiqabad Police Station. She was accompanied by her legal team, and the court extended her interim bail until August 25.
Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since August 2023 in connection with a £190 million corruption case, also faces multiple trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act, particularly over the May 9, 2023 protests.
His imprisonment has triggered a wave of legal challenges and political unrest, with PTI leaders alleging systematic political victimisation. The government has maintained that all cases are proceeding in accordance with the law.
