The Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the Punjab government and other respondents to respond to petitions contesting the detention of Noreen Niazi and Dr. Uzma Khan, sisters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan, under the Maintenance of Public Order ordinance.
The two sisters were taken into custody after Lahore’s deputy commissioner ordered their 30-day detention on September 21 under Section 3 of the MPO, acting on a recommendation submitted by police authorities.
Following their detention, Noreen and Uzma were moved to Kot Lakhpat Jail, joining their sister Aleema Khan, who had been placed in the same facility a day before them.
Detentions Precede PTI’s Planned Islamabad March
The timing of the detentions coincides with the opposition party’s upcoming nationwide demonstration and march toward Islamabad scheduled for September 27, organized to press for Imran Khan’s release and to reaffirm the primacy of the Constitution.
Justice Abher Gul Khan presided over the hearing on the petitions filed against the detention orders. Legal counsel representing Noreen and Uzma asked the court to suspend the orders with immediate effect.
The bench declined to suspend the detention notifications at this point in proceedings, opting instead to issue notices calling for formal replies from the respondents named in the case.
Advocates Mudassir Umar and Barrister Taimur represented the two sisters in court, while lawyer Farrukh Lodhi appeared on behalf of the Punjab government.
Aleema Khan’s Detention and Related Petition
Aleema Khan’s detention took place on Sunday as she was leaving her home for a gym visit in Lahore, according to sources familiar with the matter. She was later transferred to Kot Lakhpat Jail alongside her driver.
Her son, Shahraiz Khan, subsequently filed a petition with the Lahore High Court challenging the MPO detention orders issued against both his mother and her driver.
During a hearing held on September 22, the court asked for arguments concerning whether the petition was maintainable and postponed further proceedings until September 25 for additional arguments from both sides.
