The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday issued notices to the Punjab government and other involved parties regarding petitions contesting the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sisters, Noreen Niazi and Dr. Uzma Khan, under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) regulations.
The detention orders, issued by the Lahore deputy commissioner on September 21, invoked Section 3 of the MPO and extended for 30 days following police recommendations. Subsequently, Noreen and Uzma were transferred to Kot Lakhpat Jail, where their sister Aleema Khan had been detained a day earlier.
These detentions occurred in the lead-up to a significant nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad organized by the opposition party on September 27. The demonstration aimed to demand the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and uphold the supremacy of the Constitution.
Justice Abher Gul Khan presided over the hearing of the petitions challenging the detention orders. Lawyers representing Noreen and Uzma requested the immediate suspension of the detention notifications. However, the court declined to suspend the orders at this stage and instead issued notices to the respondents, directing them to submit their replies.
Legal representation for Noreen and Uzma included Mudassir Umar and Barrister Taimur, while Farrukh Lodhi appeared for the Punjab government.
Earlier, on Sunday, Aleema Khan was detained while heading to a gym in Lahore and was also shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail. Her son, Shahraiz Khan, filed a petition in the LHC challenging the detention orders against both his mother and her driver under the MPO.
During the hearing on September 22, the court requested arguments concerning the petition’s maintainability and adjourned the matter until September 25 for further submissions.
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