Web Desk
Rawalpindi: Two women were arrested on Friday for throwing an egg at Aleema Khanum, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, during a media talk outside Adiala Jail, where a hearing in the Toshakhana case had earlier taken place. Footage of the incident went viral on news channels and social media, capturing Aleema’s shock as the egg struck her.
Police Statement and Arrest
The Rawalpindi Police stated that the arrested women were PTI supporters, who had traveled with members of the All Government Employees Grand Alliance and the All Pakistan Clerks Association to protest over unmet demands. “The egging took place when Aleema Khan did not answer questions raised by the women,” the statement read. Both suspects were taken into police custody and sent to the Adiala checkpoint.
The police added that the women attempted to flee in their car immediately after the incident, but the vehicle was surrounded by PTI supporters, some of whom reportedly threw pebbles, breaking the car windscreen.
PTI Reaction
PTI reposted video footage of the white car involved on X, calling the attack a “shameful attack on Aleema Khan.” The party claimed the women had been sent to the media talk “as part of an agenda” and said they had noted the car’s registration number, demanding a first information report (FIR) for the attack.
Political Condemnations
Several leaders from different parties condemned the incident:
- Defence Minister Khawaja Asif: “We strongly condemn such dirty tricks in politics without discrimination. There is opposition in politics, but within the circle of civility.”
- Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal: “Politics must remain a contest of ideas, not of violence or hatred.”
- Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry: Emphasized that political differences should be expressed with decorum.
- Senior PML-N leader Khawaja Rafique: Called the attack “shameful, vile and crude.”
- BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal: “Even in enmity, a woman deserves dignity. Targeting women is the lowest form of politics and this cheap stunt must be condemned.”
- Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon: Stressed that political differences should never justify disrespectful behavior.
Background and Context
Aleema Khan has been campaigning for her brother Imran Khan’s release since August 2024. Imran, imprisoned since August 2023, is serving a sentence in the £190 million corruption case and faces pending trials in the May 9 cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
This is not the first time the family faced such attacks. In November 2014, a plot to attack Imran with rotten eggs and tomatoes in Gujranwala was foiled, with four PML-N activists arrested after planning to target him with slogans “Ro Imran Ro.”
