A Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court on Monday ordered the unfreezing of bank accounts belonging to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust (SKMT) and Namal University, after the prosecution confirmed it had no objection to restoring access to the institutions’ funds.
The directive was issued by ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah during proceedings in a case pertaining to the November 26 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest, in which PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, is nominated.
Prosecution clarifies mistaken freeze linked to CNIC
Prosecutor Zaheer Shah told the court that authorities had requested the State Bank to freeze only Aleema Khan’s personal bank accounts based on her CNIC. However, the central bank closed all accounts registered under the same identity number — including those of SKMT and Namal University — due to technical linkage in documentation.
After hearing arguments, the judge ordered the immediate defreezing of four SKMT accounts, along with the accounts of Namal University, restoring full operational status to the charitable and educational institutions.
SKMT reassures donors, says patient care uninterrupted
The court order follows a statement issued by SKMT last week, assuring the public that the majority of its accounts were functioning normally despite isolated restrictions. The Trust said a small number of accounts had been temporarily affected but stressed that cancer treatment services remained uninterrupted.
SKMT expressed appreciation for the public’s “unwavering trust,” noting that it provides free cancer treatment to more than 75% of its patients nationwide. The organisation — founded by incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan — operates major cancer hospitals in Lahore and Peshawar and is constructing a third facility in Karachi.
