Imran Khan’s Sisters’ Detention Extended by 30 Days, LHC Told

LHC – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – The detention extended by the Punjab government for the sisters of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan has now been confirmed in court. Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi will stay in custody for another 30 days, the Lahore High Court (LHC) was told on Monday.

A government lawyer gave the court a report prepared by the Punjab home secretary. The report was filed in connection with a petition that asked for the release of the former prime minister’s sisters.

Aleema Khan was first detained on September 20 in Lahore. She was held under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law of 1960 and moved to Kot Lakhpat jail.

Her sisters, Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khan, were detained a day later under the same section. Police had recommended their detention.

The arrests came just before a nationwide protest planned by PTI. The party also wanted to hold a long march to Islamabad on September 27. Its aim was to demand the release of Imran Khan and to call for the supremacy of the Constitution.

Aleema’s son, Shahrez Khan, then went to the LHC. He filed a petition on October 20 and challenged the detention of his mother and aunts.

At the last hearing, the court ordered the Punjab home secretary and the Kot Lakhpat jail superintendent to appear in person. The date was set for October 28.

The petitioner’s lawyer also made a strong point at that hearing. He said the detention orders for all three women had run out on October 19 and 20.

On Monday, the government lawyer gave a different picture. He said the deputy commissioner had sent a proposal to the Punjab government. It asked for the detention to be extended.

The government approved that proposal. As a result, the detention of all three sisters was extended by another 30 days.

The lawyer also told the court that the extension was made on October 7. The home secretary and the jail superintendent were both present in court as ordered.

The petitioner’s lawyer did not accept this. He asked the court to order that Aleema, Uzma and Noreen be recovered and brought before the court.

The court looked at the home secretary’s report. It then noted that the detention notification had been issued by the deputy commissioner. However, the petitioner had not made that official a party to the case.

After reviewing the report, the court disposed of Shahrez’s petition. This means the case in its current form has ended.