ISLAMABAD: Aleema Khanum, the PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister, and former party MNA Kanwal Shauzab had a tense exchange in court on Saturday over a video, in which Ms Shauzab could be seen criticising Aleema, Dawn.com reported.

The video shows Ms Shauzab criticising Aleema for allegedly insulting party office-bearers and interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, saying that Imran Khan’s sister should not dent the party. The former MNA allegedly said she would confront the PTI founder’s sister herself over the issue.

On Saturday, Ms Shauzab approached Aleema on the premises of Rawalpindi’s anti-terrorism court (ATC), saying she wanted to talk to her. Imran Khan’s sister, however, said: “Just leave it. What you said was right. Many other people speak against us. We are now used to such accusations.”

ATC judge rejects plea of ex-PM’s sister to travel abroad

To this, the former MNA told her that she wanted to speak with her in this regard, to which Aleema rebuffed her, saying: “I am not angry with you, [now] go.”

Ms Shauzab replied: “A specific part of an old video of mine was used against me.” Aleema subsequently told her that many from the PML-N and other parties also spoke against her.

The former premier’s sister then left while ignoring the party member.

Aleema’s request to go abroad rejected

Meanwhile, ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah rejected Aleema Khan’s plea seeking permission to exempt her from court appearances so she could travel abroad.

Speaking to the media outside the court, she said she had been visiting the courts for the past week due to “newer and newer cases”, alleging that they were being filed to impede her travel abroad.

She questioned who was afraid of her and why for going abroad.

Aleema further alleged that there were around 50 to 60 cases against her for conveying her brother’s messages to the people.

Earlier this week, Islamabad High Court Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro directed the removal of her name from the Provisional National Immigration List and Passport Control List.

Aleema had approached the court to challenge the inclusion of her name in the travel ban lists. The court had allowed her to seek permission to travel abroad by approaching the relevant trial court handling the cases registered against her.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2025