Courts seek arguments on Aleema Khan detention, summon Islamabad police official over alleged PTI raids

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The Lahore and Islamabad high courts on Tuesday made progress on separate petitions challenging the detention of former prime minister Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan and alleged raids and harassment of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders ahead of the party’s planned September 27 long march.

The Lahore High Court sought further arguments on the maintainability of a petition challenging the detention of Aleema Khan and her driver, while the Islamabad High Court (IHC) summoned Islamabad Police’s SSP Operations to appear before it on September 24 in a case concerning alleged raids on PTI leaders’ homes.

LHC seeks arguments on Aleema Khan detention

Justice Abher Gul Khan heard a petition filed by Aleema Khan’s son, Shah Zair, challenging her detention.

During the hearing, the judge asked the petitioner’s counsel whether he had approached the relevant authority regarding the detention.

The lawyer argued that the case was different from other detention matters, saying a District Intelligence Committee meeting and the detention notification had taken place on the same date.

He contended that the sequence of events suggested Aleema Khan may have been arrested first, followed by the committee meeting and subsequent issuance of the detention notification.

The judge remarked that the court would examine the matter and initially reserved its decision on the maintainability of the petition. After a break, the court sought further arguments on the issue and adjourned the hearing until September 25.

IHC summons police official over alleged raids

Meanwhile, Justice Inam Amin Minhas heard a petition filed by PTI leaders Malik Amir, Shoaib Shaheen and others against alleged raids and harassment by Islamabad Police.

The petitioners’ counsel told the court that police were allegedly conducting raids on the homes of PTI leaders without lawful authority.

According to the petition, police cannot conduct searches of residences without an order from a competent authority. The petitioners asked the court to restrain Islamabad Police officials from violating the sanctity of homes.

The IHC summoned the SSP Operations Islamabad to appear before the court on September 24 and adjourned the proceedings.

PTI prepares for September 27 march

The cases come ahead of PTI’s planned long march on September 27. The party has criticised the arrests and detention of its leaders and supporters in the run-up to the protest.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said in a statement on X that the arrests of lawmakers and family members could further escalate tensions and called on the state to change its approach.

Imran Khan’s three sisters, Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, have also been detained in recent days, according to the report.