LHC turns down request for immediate suspension of Imran’s sisters’ detention orders

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday turned down plea seeking immediate suspension of the preventive detention notifications issued against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sisters Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi.

LHC Judge Justice Abher Gul Khan heard a petition challenging the detention of Dr Uzma and Noreen, who were taken into custody earlier this week and transferred to Kot Lakhpat Jail under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance.

Barrister Taimur Malik and Advocate Rana Mudassir appeared on behalf of the petitioners, while Advocate Farrukh Lodhi represented the Punjab government.

The petitioners’ counsel argued that Uzma and Noreen were non-political, homemakers and had been detained without sufficient justification.

he lawyers also told the court that Dr Uzma had already been acquitted in a case registered against her and submitted a copy of the trial court’s decision to the record.

The counsel requested the court to immediately suspend the detention notifications issued by the Lahore deputy commissioner.

Justice Abher, however, said the court would first seek responses from the relevant authorities before deciding the request for suspension.

The court issued notices to the respondents, including the Lahore deputy commissioner, the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO), the home department secretary and Kot Lakhpat Jail superintendent, and sought their replies.

Dr Uzma and Noreen were detained on Monday for 30 days under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960, a day after their sister Aleema Khan was also taken into custody.

The detentions came ahead of the PTI’s planned countrywide protest and march towards Islamabad on September 27.

Dr Uzma and Noreen were taken into custody from their Lahore residence late at night.

According to their family, the two women were detained along with their children, who were later released along with other family members.

Following their detention under the MPO, both women were shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail.

The Lahore deputy commissioner had ordered their 30-day detention, citing the potential threat to public order.

Aleema Khan also detained

Earlier, police detained Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan outside her residence in Lahore and shifted her to Kot Lakhpat Jail.

The Lahore deputy commissioner subsequently issued a 30-day detention order against Aleema and PTI leader Mohammad Amir under the MPO.

Following Aleema’s arrest, PTI alleged on X that she had been “abducted” from outside her home by what it described as an “illegal government” and its alleged facilitators.

Aleema’s lawyer, Rana Mudassir Umar, said police had detained her unlawfully, adding that she had bail in all cases registered against her in Lahore. He also said the family had not been informed where she was being held.

Authorities tighten security ahead of Sept 27 protest

The detentions of PTI leaders and workers have taken place amid heightened security measures ahead of the party’s planned September 27 protest and march on Islamabad.

Meanwhile, Punjab Inspector General Rao Abdul Kareem has warned that anyone violating the law on September 27 would be dealt with strictly.

The Punjab government has imposed a 13-day ban on public gatherings across the province and prohibited incitement to unlawful assembly. Section 144 has also been imposed in Islamabad.

The provincial government has additionally sought the deployment of Rangers in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali until October 5, as well as restrictions on mobile and internet services at specified locations in Rawalpindi and Attock on September 27.