LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed the Lahore deputy commissioner (DC) to appear before the court on November 4 in connection with the continued detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sisters. The court also ordered authorities to facilitate a meeting between Noreen Niazi and her two daughters.
Justice Abher Gul Khan issued the directives while hearing petitions filed by Shahrez Khan, son of Aleema Khan, and Sakeena Bibi. The petitions challenge the detention of Aleema Khan, Dr Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi and raise concerns over Noreen’s medical treatment.
The court ordered that Noreen’s two daughters be allowed to meet her in jail at 10am on Tuesday for one hour. It directed the petitioners’ counsel to submit a formal application to the Lahore DC, who was instructed to make the necessary arrangements.
During the hearing, the Punjab government’s counsel informed the court that Noreen had been taken to a hospital after developing heart-related complications at Kot Lakhpat jail. She was shifted to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology on October 28 and later returned to prison on medical advice.
The government lawyer also told the court that Noreen’s daughter, Hajra Niazi, had met her mother on October 29 while she was receiving treatment at the hospital.
Lawyer Rana Mudassar Umar argued that the three sisters had spent 44 days behind bars despite having committed no offence. He also requested the court to summon a report concerning Aleema Khan’s detention by November 4.
Responding to the request, Justice Abher Gul Khan said the court would review the matter.
The three women have been held under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance since September in connection with PTI’s anti-government protest.
Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khan were initially detained for 30 days on September 21, while Aleema Khan was taken into custody on September 20, ahead of PTI’s planned September 27 demonstration, which was later rescheduled for October 4.
In late October, the Punjab government informed the LHC that the detention period of all three women had been extended by another 30 days on the Lahore DC’s recommendation.
The petitioners had challenged the extensions, maintaining that the original 30-day detention period had expired before the deputy commissioner issued an extension notification on October 7.
Separately, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja had informed the court that Aleema Khan’s driver was also among those detained. He argued that the driver had no political affiliation and sought relief for him.
Justice Khan questioned why a separate petition had not been filed regarding the driver’s detention if it constituted an independent matter.
The judge observed that since the applications had been filed together, the court would seek reports on both matters collectively.
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